IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v67y2017icp1087-1104.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Approaches to overcome the barrier issues of passive direct methanol fuel cell – Review

Author

Listed:
  • Munjewar, Seema S.
  • Thombre, Shashikant B.
  • Mallick, Ranjan K.

Abstract

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) within all types of fuel cells are the most viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries in the portable application, and recently attracted much attention. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the passive DMFC barriers viz. methanol crossover, slow kinetics, water management, heat management, species management, durability and stability and cost for commercialization. Furthermore, it focuses on different approaches to overcome discussed barriers of passive DMFC. It is shown that the critical challenge regarding to minimize methanol crossover through the membrane using various hybrid membranes and methanol transport barrier so that the cell performance can be maximized. Regarding to reduce the catalyst cost with better kinetics, it is expected for developing non noble catalyst for passive DMFC. The challenges related to the operating temperature of passive DMFC is the selection methanol concentration, current density, ambient temperature, air humidity, cell orientation, membrane thickness, cell design, etc. which affects the cell performance. The several methods related to the water management layer deals with transport of the water produced on the cathode to the anode through the membrane and the cathode with minimum water flooding.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:67:y:2017:i:c:p:1087-1104
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.002
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032116304932
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.002?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. Yuan, Wei & Deng, Jun & Zhang, Zhaochun & Yang, Xiaojun & Tang, Yong, 2014. "Study on operational aspects of a passive direct methanol fuel cell incorporating an anodic methanol barrier," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 640-648.
    2. Mallick, Ranjan K. & Thombre, Shashikant B. & Shrivastava, Naveen K., 2016. "Vapor feed direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs): A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 51-74.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Wang, Luwen & Zhang, Yufeng & An, Zijian & Huang, Siteng & Zhou, Zhiping & Liu, Xiaowei, 2013. "Non-isothermal modeling of a small passive direct methanol fuel cell in vertical operation with anode natural convection effect," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 283-295.
    6. Radenahmad, Nikdalila & Afif, Ahmed & Petra, Pg Iskandar & Rahman, Seikh M.H. & Eriksson, Sten-G. & Azad, Abul K., 2016. "Proton-conducting electrolytes for direct methanol and direct urea fuel cells – A state-of-the-art review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 1347-1358.
    7. Yuan, Wei & Tang, Yong & Yang, Xiaojun, 2013. "High-concentration operation of a passive air-breathing direct methanol fuel cell integrated with a porous methanol barrier," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 741-746.
    8. 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. Zuria, Alonso Moreno & Abrego-Martinez, Juan Carlos & Sun, Shuhui & Mohamedi, Mohamed, 2020. "Prospects of membraneless mixed-reactant microfluidic fuel cells: Evolution through numerical simulation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    2. Dabiri, Soroush & Hashemi, Mohammadreza & Rahimi, Mohammadfazel & Bahiraei, Mehdi & Khodabandeh, Erfan, 2018. "Design of an innovative distributor to improve flow uniformity using cylindrical obstacles in header of a fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 719-731.
    3. Blanco, Elena C. & Sánchez, Antonio & Martín, Mariano & Vega, Pastora, 2023. "Methanol and ammonia as emerging green fuels: Evaluation of a new power generation paradigm," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    4. Xu, Qidong & Xia, Lingchao & He, Qijiao & Guo, Zengjia & Ni, Meng, 2021. "Thermo-electrochemical modelling of high temperature methanol-fuelled solid oxide fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    5. 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).
    6. Munjewar, Seema S. & Thombre, Shashikant B., 2019. "Effect of current collector roughness on performance of passive direct methanol fuel cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 272-283.
    7. Mohamedali, Mohanned & Ayodele, Olumide & Ibrahim, Hussameldin, 2020. "Challenges and prospects for the photocatalytic liquefaction of methane into oxygenated hydrocarbons," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    8. 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.
    9. 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.
    10. Pan, Zhefei & Bi, Yanding & An, Liang, 2020. "A cost-effective and chemically stable electrode binder for alkaline-acid direct ethylene glycol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    11. Maria H. de Sá & Catarina S. Moreira & Alexandra M. F. R. Pinto & Vânia B. Oliveira, 2022. "Recent Advances in the Development of Nanocatalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-47, August.
    12. Anthony E. Hughes & Nawshad Haque & Stephen A. Northey & Sarbjit Giddey, 2021. "Platinum Group Metals: A Review of Resources, Production and Usage with a Focus on Catalysts," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-40, September.
    13. Chao Jin & Tianyun Sun & Teng Xu & Xueli Jiang & Min Wang & Zhao Zhang & Yangyi Wu & Xiaoteng Zhang & Haifeng Liu, 2022. "Influence of Glycerol on Methanol Fuel Characteristics and Engine Combustion Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-14, September.
    14. Luo, Shijing & Pan, Wending & Wang, Yifei & Zhao, Xiaolong & Wah Leong, Kee & Leung, Dennis Y.C., 2022. "High-performance H2O2 paper fuel cell boosted via electrolyte toning and radical generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    15. Beatriz A. Braz & Vânia B. Oliveira & Alexandra M. F. R. Pinto, 2020. "Experimental Evaluation of the Effect of the Anode Diffusion Layer Properties on the Performance of a Passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-11, October.
    16. Wang, Luwen & Yuan, Zhaoxia & Wen, Fei & Cheng, Yuhua & Zhang, Yufeng & Wang, Gaofeng, 2018. "A bipolar passive DMFC stack for portable applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 587-593.
    17. Ke, Yuzhi & Yuan, Wei & Zhou, Feikun & Guo, Wenwen & Li, Jinguang & Zhuang, Ziyi & Su, Xiaoqing & Lu, Biaowu & Zhao, Yonghao & Tang, Yong & Chen, Yu & Song, Jianli, 2021. "A critical review on surface-pattern engineering of nafion membrane for fuel cell applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    18. Zhou, Jing & Cao, Jiamu & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Junfeng & Chen, Junyu & Li, Mingxue & Wang, Weiqi & Liu, Xiaowei, 2021. "Overcoming undesired fuel crossover: Goals of methanol-resistant modification of polymer electrolyte membranes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    19. Zhang, Rongji & Cao, Jiamu & Wang, Weiqi & Zhou, Jing & Chen, Junyu & Chen, Liang & Chen, Weiping & Zhang, Yufeng, 2023. "An improved strategy of passive micro direct methanol fuel cell: Mass transport mechanism optimization dominated by a single hydrophilic layer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).

    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. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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).
    5. 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.
    6. Alipour Najmi, Ali & Rowshanzamir, Soosan & Parnian, Mohammad Javad, 2016. "Investigation of NaOH concentration effect in injected fuel on the performance of passive direct methanol alkaline fuel cell with modified cation exchange membrane," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 589-599.
    7. Fang, Shuo & Zhang, Yufeng & Ma, Zezhong & Zou, Yuezhang & Liu, Xiaowei, 2016. "Development of a micro direct methanol fuel cell with heat control," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(P1), pages 978-985.
    8. Zhang, Yufeng & Xue, Rui & Zhang, Xuelin & Song, Jiaying & Liu, Xiaowei, 2015. "rGO deposited in stainless steel fiber felt as mass transfer barrier layer for μ-DMFC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 1081-1086.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. 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.
    12. Fang, Shuo & Liu, Yuntao & Zhao, Chunhui & Huang, Lilian & Zhong, Zhi & Wang, Yun, 2021. "Polarization analysis of a micro direct methanol fuel cell stack based on Debye-Hückel ionic atmosphere theory," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    13. Fang, Shuo & Zhang, Yufeng & Zou, Yuezhang & Sang, Shengtian & Liu, Xiaowei, 2017. "Structural design and analysis of a passive DMFC supplied with concentrated methanol solution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 50-61.
    14. 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.
    15. Fang, Shuo & Zhang, Yufeng & Ma, Zezhong & Sang, Shengtian & Liu, Xiaowei, 2016. "Systemic modeling and analysis of DMFC stack for behavior prediction in system-level application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1015-1023.
    16. 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.
    17. 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.
    18. Yuan, Zhenyu & Zhang, Manna & Zuo, Kaiyuan & Ren, Yongqiang, 2018. "The effect of gravity on inner transport and cell performance in passive micro direct methanol fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 28-37.
    19. Zhengang Zhao & Fan Zhang & Yanhui Zhang & Dacheng Zhang, 2021. "Performance Optimization of μ DMFC with Foamed Stainless Steel Cathode Current Collector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-13, October.
    20. Lukman Ahmed Omeiza & Abdalla M. Abdalla & Bo Wei & Anitha Dhanasekaran & Yathavan Subramanian & Shammya Afroze & Md Sumon Reza & Saifullah Abu Bakar & Abul Kalam Azad, 2023. "Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Advanced Applications in Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-22, February.

    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:rensus:v:67:y:2017:i:c:p:1087-1104. 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/600126/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.