Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Using Thermally Catalysed Ti Mesh

Characterisation of a direct methanol fuel cell using an anode fabricated by thermal decomposition from Pt–Ru chloro-complex on Ti mesh is described. The polarisation characteristic of the resultant membrane electrode assembly is compared with that of a conventional MEA with an anode, consisting of a catalyst layer, a microporous layer and a wet-proof-treated carbon paper. Electrode characterisation was carried out using XRD, SEM and EDX analyses. In 1 m methanol solution, the MEA with the catalysed Ti mesh anode gave a power performance comparable with that of the conventional anode at 90 °C. However, in 0.5 m methanol solution the former showed much higher power density than the latter, indicating high utilisation of methanol fuel.