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A crack-free and super-hydrophobic cathode micro-porous layer for direct methanol fuel cells

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  • Yan, X.H.
  • Zhao, T.S.
  • An, L.
  • Zhao, G.
  • Zeng, L.

Abstract

A critical issue in operating passive direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) with neat methanol is finding a way to passively transport water generated at the cathode to the anode through membranes. This is so that the water required for anodic methanol oxidation can be compensated. The corresponding water flux depends on the capillary pressure created by the cathode micro-porous layer (MPL). Conventional MPLs made of carbon powder suffer from the problem of mud-cracks, significantly reducing the capillary pressure. In this work, we propose a cathode MPL prepared with fluorinated carbon nanotubes. It is demonstrated that the fluorinated nanotube MPL has no mud-cracks and its contact angle is as high as 153°. The application of the crack-free and super-hydrophobic MPL to a passive DMFC operating with neat methanol enables a significant increase in the water recovery flux, improving the anodic methanol oxidation reaction and thereby boosting the cell performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan, X.H. & Zhao, T.S. & An, L. & Zhao, G. & Zeng, L., 2015. "A crack-free and super-hydrophobic cathode micro-porous layer for direct methanol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 331-336.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:138:y:2015:i:c:p:331-336
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.10.044
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    1. Wang, Zhigang & Zhang, Xuelin & Nie, Li & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2014. "Elimination of water flooding of cathode current collector of micro passive direct methanol fuel cell by superhydrophilic surface treatment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 107-112.
    2. Zainoodin, A.M. & Kamarudin, S.K. & Masdar, M.S. & Daud, W.R.W. & Mohamad, A.B. & Sahari, J., 2014. "Investigation of MEA degradation in a passive direct methanol fuel cell under different modes of operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 364-372.
    3. Wu, Q.X. & Zhao, T.S. & Chen, R. & An, L., 2013. "A sandwich structured membrane for direct methanol fuel cells operating with neat methanol," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 301-306.
    4. Zainoodin, A.M. & Kamarudin, S.K. & Masdar, M.S. & Daud, W.R.W. & Mohamad, A.B. & Sahari, J., 2014. "High power direct methanol fuel cell with a porous carbon nanofiber anode layer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 946-954.
    5. Lv, Yuexia & Yu, Xinhai & Jia, Jingjing & Tu, Shan-Tung & Yan, Jinyue & Dahlquist, Erik, 2012. "Fabrication and characterization of superhydrophobic polypropylene hollow fiber membranes for carbon dioxide absorption," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 167-174.
    6. Yuan, Wei & Zhang, Zhaochun & Hu, Jinyi & Zhou, Bo & Tang, Yong, 2014. "Passive vapor-feed direct methanol fuel cell using sintered porous metals to realize high-concentration operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 143-149.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Chen, Xueye & Li, Tiechuan & Shen, Jienan & Hu, Zengliang, 2017. "From structures, packaging to application: A system-level review for micro direct methanol fuel cell," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 669-678.
    3. Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Allagui, Anis & Sayed, Enas Taha & El Haj Assad, M. & Said, Zafar & Elsaid, Khaled, 2019. "Comparative analysis of liquid versus vapor-feed passive direct methanol fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 563-584.
    4. Kim, Jaeyeon & Kim, Hyeok & Song, Hyeonjun & Kim, Dasol & Kim, Geon Hwi & Im, Dasom & Jeong, Youngjin & Park, Taehyun, 2021. "Carbon nanotube sheet as a microporous layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    5. Deng, Hao & Wang, Dawei & Wang, Renfang & Xie, Xu & Yin, Yan & Du, Qing & Jiao, Kui, 2016. "Effect of electrode design and operating condition on performance of hydrogen alkaline membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 1272-1278.
    6. Yu, Yang & Chen, Sheng & Wu, Yuanhao, 2023. "Predicting gas diffusion layer flow information in proton exchange membrane fuel cells from cross-sectional data using deep learning methods," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    7. Yuan, Wei & Wang, Aoyu & Yan, Zhiguo & Tan, Zhenhao & Tang, Yong & Xia, Hongrong, 2016. "Visualization of two-phase flow and temperature characteristics of an active liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell with diverse flow fields," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 85-98.

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