A study on the dissymmetrical microporous layer structure of a direct methanol fuel cell

作者：Wang Tongtao; Lin Caishun; Fang Yong; Ye Feng; Miao Ruiying; Wang Xindong^*

来源：Electrochimica Acta, 2008, 54(2): 781-785.

DOI：10.1016/j.electacta.2008.06.063

• Direct methanol fuel cell
• Microporous layer
• Carbon loading
• Structure

The effect of carbon type, carbon loading and microporous layer structure in the microporous layer on the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) at low temperature was investigated using electrochemical polarization techniques, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and other methods. Vulcan XC-72 carbon was found to be most suitable as a microporous layer for low temperature DMFC. Maximum fuel cell performance was obtained utilizing a microporous layer with carbon loading of 1.0 mg cm(-2) when air was used as an oxidant. A membrane electrode assembly with 1.0 mg cm(-2) Vulcan XC-72 carbon with 20 wt.% Teflon in the cathode and no microporous layer in the anode showed a maximum power density of 36.7 mW cm(-2) at 35 degrees C under atmospheric pressure. The AC impedance study proved that a cell with a dissymmetrical microporous layer structure had lower internal resistance and mass transfer resistance. thus obtaining better performance.

• 出版日期2008-12-30
• 单位北京科技大学