Performance of a passive direct ethanol fuel cell

Ethanol emerges as an attractive fuel since it is less toxic and has higher energy density than methanol and can be produced from biomass. Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) appear as a good choice for producing sustainable energy for portable applications. However, they are still far from attaining...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of power sources 2014-06, Vol.256, p.14-19
Main Authors: Pereira, J.P., Falcão, D.S., Oliveira, V.B., Pinto, A.M.F.R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anodes
Applied sciences
Catalysts
Cathodes
Crossovers
Design parameters
Diffusion layers
Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation
Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering
Electrical power engineering
Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc
Ethanol
Ethanol concentration
Ethanol crossover
Ethyl alcohol
Exact sciences and technology
Fuel cells
Membranes
Optimization
Passive direct ethanol fuel cell
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Summary:Ethanol emerges as an attractive fuel since it is less toxic and has higher energy density than methanol and can be produced from biomass. Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) appear as a good choice for producing sustainable energy for portable applications. However, they are still far from attaining acceptable levels of power output, since their performance is affected by the slow electrochemical ethanol oxidation and water and ethanol crossover. In the present work, an experimental study on the performance of a passive DEFC is described. Tailored MEAs (membrane electrode assembly) with different catalyst loadings, anode diffusion layers and membranes were tested in order to select optimal working conditions at high ethanol concentrations and low ethanol crossover. The performance increased with an increase of membrane and anode diffusion layer thicknesses and anode catalyst loading. A maximum power density of 1.33 mW cm−2, was obtained using a Nafion 117 membrane, 4 mg cm−2 of Pt–Ru and 2 mg cm−2 of Pt on the anode and cathode catalyst layers, ELAT as anode diffusion layer, carbon cloth as cathode diffusion layer and an ethanol concentration of 2 M. As far as the authors are aware this is the first work reporting an experimental optimization of passive DEFCs. •An experimental study with a passive DEFC with 25 cm2 of active area is described.•Tailored MEAs were tested in order to achieve low ethanol crossover rates.•Thicker membranes and anode diffusion layers lead to low ethanol crossover rates.•A power density of 1.33 mW cm−2 was obtained with an ethanol concentration of 2 M.
ISSN:0378-7753
1873-2755
DOI:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.12.036