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An experimental study on the effect of membrane thickness and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) loading on methanol crossover in direct methanol fuel cell

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  • Sudaroli, B. Mullai
  • Kolar, Ajit Kumar

Abstract

Methanol crossover from anode to cathode is a process which adversely affects the performance of a DMFC (direct methanol fuel cell). Increasing the electrolyte membrane thickness and addition of a MPL (microporous layer) using PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) loading are two techniques used to reduce methanol crossover by increasing the mass transfer resistance. This paper reports experiments carried out to study the effect of membrane thickness and PTFE loading in anode MPL on methanol crossover in a 25 cm2 DMFC. The rate of methanol crossover is indirectly measured by measuring the CO2 concentration at the cathode exit. The influence of PTFE content (0–20%) and membrane thickness (183 μm and 254 μm) on limiting current density, peak power density and cell efficiency are reported. The experimental results show that the methanol crossover current density is reduced by 24% using thicker membrane compared to MEA (membrane electrode assembly) with thin membrane. This leads to enhanced peak power density of 22 mW/cm2 with cell efficiency of 10%. About 20% of methanol crossover current density is reduced by 10% PTFE loading in anode MPL, which helps in improving peak power density from 13 to 24 mW/cm2 with cell efficiency of 8% compared to membrane as mass transfer resistance layer.

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  • Sudaroli, B. Mullai & Kolar, Ajit Kumar, 2016. "An experimental study on the effect of membrane thickness and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) loading on methanol crossover in direct methanol fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 204-214.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:98:y:2016:i:c:p:204-214
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2015.12.101
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    1. Seo, Sang Hern & Lee, Chang Sik, 2010. "A study on the overall efficiency of direct methanol fuel cell by methanol crossover current," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(8), pages 2597-2604, August.
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    3. Prapainainar, Paweena & Du, Zehui & Theampetch, Apichaya & Prapainainar, Chaiwat & Kongkachuichay, Paisan & Holmes, Stuart M., 2020. "Properties and DMFC performance of nafion/mordenite composite membrane fabricated by solution-casting method with different solvent ratio," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    4. Yuan, Zhenyu & Zhang, Manna & Zuo, Kaiyuan & Ren, Yongqiang, 2018. "The effect of gravity on inner transport and cell performance in passive micro direct methanol fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 28-37.
    5. Boyacı San, Fatma Gül & İyigün Karadağ, Çiğdem & Okur, Osman & Okumuş, Emin, 2016. "Optimization of the catalyst loading for the direct borohydride fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 214-224.
    6. Atyabi, Seyed Ali & Afshari, Ebrahim & Wongwises, Somchai & Yan, Wen-Mon & Hadjadj, Abdellah & Shadloo, Mostafa Safdari, 2019. "Effects of assembly pressure on PEM fuel cell performance by taking into accounts electrical and thermal contact resistances," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 490-501.
    7. Yang, Qinwen & Xiao, Gang & Li, Lexi & Che, Mengjie & Hu, Xu-Qu & Meng, Min, 2021. "Collaborative design of multi-type parameters for design and operational stage matching in fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 1101-1110.
    8. Fang, Shuo & Zhang, Yufeng & Zou, Yuezhang & Sang, Shengtian & Liu, Xiaowei, 2017. "Structural design and analysis of a passive DMFC supplied with concentrated methanol solution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 50-61.
    9. Xue, Rui & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2017. "A novel cathode gas diffusion layer for water management of passive μ-DMFC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 535-541.
    10. Ogungbemi, Emmanuel & Ijaodola, Oluwatosin & Khatib, F.N. & Wilberforce, Tabbi & El Hassan, Zaki & Thompson, James & Ramadan, Mohamad & Olabi, A.G., 2019. "Fuel cell membranes – Pros and cons," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 155-172.
    11. Fang, Shuo & Liu, Yuntao & Zhao, Chunhui & Huang, Lilian & Zhong, Zhi & Wang, Yun, 2021. "Polarization analysis of a micro direct methanol fuel cell stack based on Debye-Hückel ionic atmosphere theory," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    12. 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.
    13. Zhang, Rongji & Cao, Jiamu & Wang, Weiqi & Zhou, Jing & Chen, Junyu & Chen, Liang & Chen, Weiping & Zhang, Yufeng, 2023. "An improved strategy of passive micro direct methanol fuel cell: Mass transport mechanism optimization dominated by a single hydrophilic layer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).

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