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Principles and Materials Aspects of Direct Alkaline Alcohol Fuel Cells

Author

Listed:
  • Eileen Hao Yu

    (School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Merz Court, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK)

  • Ulrike Krewer

    (Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstrasse 1, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
    Portable Energy Systems, Chair for Process Systems Engineering, Otto von Guericke University, Universitaetsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • Keith Scott

    (School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Merz Court, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK)

Abstract

Direct alkaline alcohol fuel cells (DAAFCs) have attracted increasing interest over the past decade because of their favourable reaction kinetics in alkaline media, higher energy densities achievable and the easy handling of the liquid fuels. In this review, principles and mechanisms of DAAFCs in alcohol oxidation and oxygen reduction are discussed. Despite the high energy densities available during the oxidation of polycarbon alcohols they are difficult to oxidise. Apart from methanol, the complete oxidation of other polycarbon alcohols to CO 2 has not been achieved with current catalysts. Different types of catalysts, from conventional precious metal catalyst of Pt and Pt alloys to other lower cost Pd, Au and Ag metal catalysts are compared. Non precious metal catalysts, and lanthanum, strontium oxides and perovskite-type oxides are also discussed. Membranes like the ones used as polymer electrolytes and developed for DAAFCs are reviewed. Unlike conventional proton exchange membrane fuel cells, anion exchange membranes are used in present DAAFCs. Fuel cell performance with DAAFCs using different alcohols, catalysts and membranes, as well as operating parameters are summarised. In order to improve the power output of the DAAFCs, further developments in catalysts, membrane materials and fuel cell systems are essential.

Suggested Citation

  • Eileen Hao Yu & Ulrike Krewer & Keith Scott, 2010. "Principles and Materials Aspects of Direct Alkaline Alcohol Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 3(8), pages 1-30, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:3:y:2010:i:8:p:1499-1528:d:9375
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Selvaraj Rajesh Kumar & Cheng-Hsin Juan & Guan-Ming Liao & Jia-Shiun Lin & Chun-Chen Yang & Wei-Ting Ma & Jiann-Hua You & Shingjiang Jessie Lue, 2015. "Fumed Silica Nanoparticles Incorporated in Quaternized Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Nanocomposite Membrane for Enhanced Power Densities in Direct Alcohol Alkaline Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-19, December.
    2. D.M.F. Santos & J.R.B. Lourenço & D. Macciò & A. Saccone & C.A.C. Sequeira & J.L. Figueiredo, 2020. "Ethanol Electrooxidation at Platinum-Rare Earth (RE = Ce, Sm, Ho, Dy) Binary Alloys," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-21, April.
    3. Johannes Kiefer, 2015. "Recent Advances in the Characterization of Gaseous and Liquid Fuels by Vibrational Spectroscopy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-33, April.
    4. Pan, Zhefei & Bi, Yanding & An, Liang, 2019. "Performance characteristics of a passive direct ethylene glycol fuel cell with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 846-854.
    5. Nandan, Ravi & Goswami, Gopal Krishna & Nanda, Karuna Kar, 2017. "Direct synthesis of Pt-free catalyst on gas diffusion layer of fuel cell and usage of high boiling point fuels for efficient utilization of waste heat," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 1050-1058.
    6. Kiyani, Roya & Rowshanzamir, Soosan & Parnian, Mohammad Javad, 2016. "Nitrogen doped graphene supported palladium-cobalt as a promising catalyst for methanol oxidation reaction: Synthesis, characterization and electrocatalytic performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1162-1173.
    7. Hegazy Rezk & A. G. Olabi & Tabbi Wilberforce & Enas Taha Sayed, 2023. "A Comprehensive Review and Application of Metaheuristics in Solving the Optimal Parameter Identification Problems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-24, March.

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