Direct methanol fuel cell operation with pre-stretched recast Nafion (R)

Lin, J; Wu, PH; Wycisk, R; Trivisonno, A; Pintauro, PN

HERO ID

1136072

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2008

Language

English

HERO ID 1136072
In Press No
Year 2008
Title Direct methanol fuel cell operation with pre-stretched recast Nafion (R)
Authors Lin, J; Wu, PH; Wycisk, R; Trivisonno, A; Pintauro, PN
Journal Journal of Power Sources
Volume 183
Issue 2
Page Numbers 491-497
Abstract Direct methanol fuel cell operation with uniaxially pre-stretched recast Nafion[super][registered] membranes (draw ratio of 4) was investigated and compared to that with commercial (un-stretched) Nafion[super][registered]. The effects of membrane thickness (60-250 [micro]m) and methanol feed concentration (0.5-10.0 M) on fuel cell power output were quantified for a cell temperature of 60 [deg]C, ambient pressure air, and anode/cathode catalyst loadings of 4.0 mg cm[super]-2. Pre-stretched recast Nafion[super][registered] in the 130-180 [micro]m thickness range produced the highest power at 0.4 V (84 mW cm[super]-2), as compared to 58 mW cm[super]-2 for Nafion[super][registered] 117. MEAs with pre-stretched recast Nafion[super][registered] consistently out-performed Nafion[super][registered] 117 at all methanol feed concentrations, with 33-48% higher power densities at 0.4 V, due to a combination of low area-specific resistance (the use of a thinner pre-stretched membrane, where the conductivity was the same as that for commercial Nafion[super][registered]) and low methanol crossover (due to low methanol solubility in the membrane). Very high power was generated with a 180-[micro]m thick pre-stretched recast Nafion[super][registered] membrane by increasing the cell temperature to 80 [deg]C, increasing the anode/cathode catalyst loading to 8.0 mg cm[super]-2, and increasing the cathode air pressure to 25 psig. Under these conditions the power density at 0.4 V for a 1.0-M methanol feed solution was 240 mW cm[super]-2 and the maximum power density was 252 mW cm[super]-2.
Doi 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.05.051
Wosid WOS:000259716600007
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments Source: Web of Science 000259716600007
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword power density; proton conductivity; methanol crossover
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