IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v138y2015icp331-336.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A crack-free and super-hydrophobic cathode micro-porous layer for direct methanol fuel cells

Author

Listed:
  • Yan, X.H.
  • Zhao, T.S.
  • An, L.
  • Zhao, G.
  • Zeng, L.

Abstract

A critical issue in operating passive direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) with neat methanol is finding a way to passively transport water generated at the cathode to the anode through membranes. This is so that the water required for anodic methanol oxidation can be compensated. The corresponding water flux depends on the capillary pressure created by the cathode micro-porous layer (MPL). Conventional MPLs made of carbon powder suffer from the problem of mud-cracks, significantly reducing the capillary pressure. In this work, we propose a cathode MPL prepared with fluorinated carbon nanotubes. It is demonstrated that the fluorinated nanotube MPL has no mud-cracks and its contact angle is as high as 153°. The application of the crack-free and super-hydrophobic MPL to a passive DMFC operating with neat methanol enables a significant increase in the water recovery flux, improving the anodic methanol oxidation reaction and thereby boosting the cell performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan, X.H. & Zhao, T.S. & An, L. & Zhao, G. & Zeng, L., 2015. "A crack-free and super-hydrophobic cathode micro-porous layer for direct methanol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 331-336.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:138:y:2015:i:c:p:331-336
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.10.044
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261914010940
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.10.044?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lv, Yuexia & Yu, Xinhai & Jia, Jingjing & Tu, Shan-Tung & Yan, Jinyue & Dahlquist, Erik, 2012. "Fabrication and characterization of superhydrophobic polypropylene hollow fiber membranes for carbon dioxide absorption," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 167-174.
    2. Wang, Zhigang & Zhang, Xuelin & Nie, Li & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2014. "Elimination of water flooding of cathode current collector of micro passive direct methanol fuel cell by superhydrophilic surface treatment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 107-112.
    3. Zainoodin, A.M. & Kamarudin, S.K. & Masdar, M.S. & Daud, W.R.W. & Mohamad, A.B. & Sahari, J., 2014. "Investigation of MEA degradation in a passive direct methanol fuel cell under different modes of operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 364-372.
    4. Yuan, Wei & Zhang, Zhaochun & Hu, Jinyi & Zhou, Bo & Tang, Yong, 2014. "Passive vapor-feed direct methanol fuel cell using sintered porous metals to realize high-concentration operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 143-149.
    5. Wu, Q.X. & Zhao, T.S. & Chen, R. & An, L., 2013. "A sandwich structured membrane for direct methanol fuel cells operating with neat methanol," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 301-306.
    6. Zainoodin, A.M. & Kamarudin, S.K. & Masdar, M.S. & Daud, W.R.W. & Mohamad, A.B. & Sahari, J., 2014. "High power direct methanol fuel cell with a porous carbon nanofiber anode layer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 946-954.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Xia, Zhangxun & Sun, Ruili & Jing, Fenning & Wang, Suli & Sun, Hai & Sun, Gongquan, 2018. "Modeling and optimization of Scaffold-like macroporous electrodes for highly efficient direct methanol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 239-248.
    2. Chen, Xueye & Li, Tiechuan & Shen, Jienan & Hu, Zengliang, 2017. "From structures, packaging to application: A system-level review for micro direct methanol fuel cell," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 669-678.
    3. Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Allagui, Anis & Sayed, Enas Taha & El Haj Assad, M. & Said, Zafar & Elsaid, Khaled, 2019. "Comparative analysis of liquid versus vapor-feed passive direct methanol fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 563-584.
    4. Kim, Jaeyeon & Kim, Hyeok & Song, Hyeonjun & Kim, Dasol & Kim, Geon Hwi & Im, Dasom & Jeong, Youngjin & Park, Taehyun, 2021. "Carbon nanotube sheet as a microporous layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    5. Deng, Hao & Wang, Dawei & Wang, Renfang & Xie, Xu & Yin, Yan & Du, Qing & Jiao, Kui, 2016. "Effect of electrode design and operating condition on performance of hydrogen alkaline membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 1272-1278.
    6. Yu, Yang & Chen, Sheng & Wu, Yuanhao, 2023. "Predicting gas diffusion layer flow information in proton exchange membrane fuel cells from cross-sectional data using deep learning methods," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    7. Yuan, Wei & Wang, Aoyu & Yan, Zhiguo & Tan, Zhenhao & Tang, Yong & Xia, Hongrong, 2016. "Visualization of two-phase flow and temperature characteristics of an active liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell with diverse flow fields," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 85-98.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Calabriso, Andrea & Borello, Domenico & Romano, Giovanni Paolo & Cedola, Luca & Del Zotto, Luca & Santori, Simone Giovanni, 2017. "Bubbly flow mapping in the anode channel of a direct methanol fuel cell via PIV investigation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1245-1255.
    2. Liu, Guicheng & Li, Xinyang & Wang, Hui & Liu, Xiuying & Chen, Ming & Woo, Jae Young & Kim, Ji Young & Wang, Xindong & Lee, Joong Kee, 2017. "Design of 3-electrode system for in situ monitoring direct methanol fuel cells during long-time running test at high temperature," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 163-168.
    3. Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Allagui, Anis & Sayed, Enas Taha & El Haj Assad, M. & Said, Zafar & Elsaid, Khaled, 2019. "Comparative analysis of liquid versus vapor-feed passive direct methanol fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 563-584.
    4. Munjewar, Seema S. & Thombre, Shashikant B. & Mallick, Ranjan K., 2017. "Approaches to overcome the barrier issues of passive direct methanol fuel cell – Review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1087-1104.
    5. Chen, Qing-Yun & Fu, Rong & Fang, Xiao-Wen & Cai, Wen-Fang & Wang, Yun-Hai & Cheng, Shao-An, 2015. "Cr-methanol fuel cell for efficient Cr(VI) removal and high power production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 31-35.
    6. Yuan, Wei & Wang, Aoyu & Yan, Zhiguo & Tan, Zhenhao & Tang, Yong & Xia, Hongrong, 2016. "Visualization of two-phase flow and temperature characteristics of an active liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell with diverse flow fields," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 85-98.
    7. Zainoodin, A.M. & Kamarudin, S.K. & Masdar, M.S. & Daud, W.R.W. & Mohamad, A.B. & Sahari, J., 2014. "Investigation of MEA degradation in a passive direct methanol fuel cell under different modes of operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 364-372.
    8. Deng, Huichao & Zhang, Yufeng & Zheng, Xue & Li, Yang & Zhang, Xuelin & Liu, Xiaowei, 2015. "A CNT (carbon nanotube) paper as cathode gas diffusion electrode for water management of passive μ-DMFC (micro-direct methanol fuel cell) with highly concentrated methanol," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 236-241.
    9. Wang, Zhigang & Zhang, Xuelin & Nie, Li & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2014. "Elimination of water flooding of cathode current collector of micro passive direct methanol fuel cell by superhydrophilic surface treatment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 107-112.
    10. Braz, B.A. & Oliveira, V.B. & Pinto, A.M.F.R., 2020. "Optimization of a passive direct methanol fuel cell with different current collector materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    11. Ganapathy, Harish & Steinmayer, Sascha & Shooshtari, Amir & Dessiatoun, Serguei & Ohadi, Michael M. & Alshehhi, Mohamed, 2016. "Process intensification characteristics of a microreactor absorber for enhanced CO2 capture," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 416-427.
    12. Lin, Yi-Feng & Ko, Chia-Chieh & Chen, Chien-Hua & Tung, Kuo-Lun & Chang, Kai-Shiun & Chung, Tsair-Wang, 2014. "Sol–gel preparation of polymethylsilsesquioxane aerogel membranes for CO2 absorption fluxes in membrane contactors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 25-31.
    13. An, Myung-Gi & Mehmood, Asad & Ha, Heung Yong, 2014. "Sensor-less control of the methanol concentration of direct methanol fuel cells at varying ambient temperatures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 104-111.
    14. Kim, Joon-Hee & Yang, Min-Jee & Park, Jun-Young, 2014. "Improvement on performance and efficiency of direct methanol fuel cells using hydrocarbon-based membrane electrode assembly," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 95-102.
    15. Zakaria, Z. & Kamarudin, S.K., 2016. "Direct conversion technologies of methane to methanol: An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 250-261.
    16. Mehmood, Asad & Ha, Heung Yong, 2014. "Performance restoration of direct methanol fuel cells in long-term operation using a hydrogen evolution method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 164-171.
    17. Ganapathy, H. & Shooshtari, A. & Dessiatoun, S. & Alshehhi, M. & Ohadi, M., 2014. "Fluid flow and mass transfer characteristics of enhanced CO2 capture in a minichannel reactor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 43-56.
    18. Li Guan & Prabhuraj Balakrishnan & Huiyuan Liu & Weiqi Zhang & Yilin Deng & Huaneng Su & Lei Xing & Željko Penga & Qian Xu, 2022. "A Tortuosity Engineered Dual-Microporous Layer Electrode Including Graphene Aerogel Enabling Largely Improved Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Performance with High-Concentration Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-14, December.
    19. Yan, Xiaohui & Lin, Chen & Zheng, Zhifeng & Chen, Junren & Wei, Guanghua & Zhang, Junliang, 2020. "Effect of clamping pressure on liquid-cooled PEMFC stack performance considering inhomogeneous gas diffusion layer compression," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    20. Lin, Yi-Feng & Chang, Jun-Min & Ye, Qian & Tung, Kuo-Lun, 2015. "Hydrophobic fluorocarbon-modified silica aerogel tubular membranes with excellent CO2 recovery ability in membrane contactors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 21-25.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:138:y:2015:i:c:p:331-336. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.