Performance of a direct methanol fuel cell

The performance of a direct methanol fuel cell based on a Nafion® solid polymer electrolyte membrane (SPE) is reported. The fuel cell utilizes a vaporized aqueous methanol fuel at a porous Pt–Ru–carbon catalyst anode. The effect of oxygen pressure, methanol/water vapour temperature and methanol concentration on the cell voltage and power output is described. A problem with the operation of the fuel cell with Nafion® proton conducting membranes is that of methanol crossover from the anode to the cathode through the polymer membrane. This causes a mixed potential at the cathode, can result in cathode flooding and represents a loss in fuel efficiency. To evaluate cell performance mathematical models are developed to predict the cell voltage, current density response of the fuel cell.