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Performance of an Active Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Reduced Catalyst Loading MEAs

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  • D.S. Falcão

    (CEFT, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

  • R.A. Silva

    (LNEG, Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen, Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • C.M. Rangel

    (LNEG, Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen, Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • A.M.F.R. Pinto

    (CEFT, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

The micro direct methanol fuel cell (MicroDMFC) is an emergent technology due to its special interest for portable applications. This work presents the results of a set of experiments conducted at room temperature using an active metallic MicroDMFC with an active area of 2.25 cm 2 . The MicroDMFC uses available commercial materials with low platinum content in order to reduce the overall fuel cell cost. The main goal of this work is to provide useful information to easily design an active MicroDMFC with a good performance recurring to cheaper commercial Membrane Electrode Assemblies MEAs. A performance/cost analysis for each MEA tested is provided. The maximum power output obtained was 18.1 mW/cm 2 for a hot-pressed MEA with materials purchased from Quintech with very low catalyst loading (3 mg/cm 2 Pt–Ru at anode side and 0.5 mg/cm 2 PtB at the cathode side) costing around 15 euros. Similar power values are reported in literature for the same type of micro fuel cells working at higher operating temperatures and substantially higher cathode catalyst loadings. Experimental studies using metallic active micro direct methanol fuel cells operating at room temperature are very scarce. The results presented in this work are, therefore, very useful for the scientific community.

Suggested Citation

  • D.S. Falcão & R.A. Silva & C.M. Rangel & A.M.F.R. Pinto, 2017. "Performance of an Active Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Reduced Catalyst Loading MEAs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-9, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:11:p:1683-:d:116297
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Falcão, D.S. & Oliveira, V.B. & Rangel, C.M. & Pinto, A.M.F.R., 2015. "Experimental and modeling studies of a micro direct methanol fuel cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 464-470.
    2. Falcão, D.S. & Oliveira, V.B. & Rangel, C.M. & Pinto, A.M.F.R., 2014. "Review on micro-direct methanol fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 58-70.
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    Cited by:

    1. Maria H. de Sá & Alexandra M. F. R. Pinto & Vânia B. Oliveira, 2022. "Passive Small Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells for Low-Power Portable Applications: Assessment Based on Innovative Increments since 2018," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-48, May.
    2. Heng Zhang & Yang Yang & Tianyu Liu & Honglong Chang, 2018. "Boosting the Power-Generation Performance of Micro-Sized Al-H 2 O 2 Fuel Cells by Using Silver Nanowires as the Cathode," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-10, September.
    3. Maria H. de Sá & Catarina S. Moreira & Alexandra M. F. R. Pinto & Vânia B. Oliveira, 2022. "Recent Advances in the Development of Nanocatalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-47, August.

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