Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) are attracting increasing interest as power sources for portable applications due to some unquestionable advantages over analogous devices fed with hydrogen.1 Alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol, exhibit high volumetric energy density, and their storage and transport are much easier as compared to hydrogen. On the other hand, the oxidation kinetics of any alcohol are much slower and still H2-fueled polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFCs) exhibit superior electrical performance as compared to DAFCs with comparable electroactive surface areas.2,3 Increasing research efforts are therefore being carried out to design and develop more efficient anode electrocatalysts for DAFCs.

Palladium-Based Electrocatalysts for Alcohol Oxidation in Half Cells and in Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells

Platinum-based nanostructured materials: synthesis, properties, and applications.

This article introduces the radical approach of applying alkaline anion-exchange membranes (AAEMs) to meet the current challenges with regards to direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). A review of the literature is presented with regards to the testing of fuel cells with alkaline membranes (fuelled with hydrogen or methanol) and also to candidate alkaline anion-exchange membranes for such an application. A brief review of the directly related patent literature is also included. Current and future research challenges are identified along with potential strategies to overcome them. Finally, the advantages and challenges with the direct electrochemical oxidation of alternative fuels are discussed, along with how the application of alkaline membranes in such fuel cells may assist in improving performance and fuel efficiency.

https://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/1696/1/fulltext.pdf

Prospects for Alkaline Anion-Exchange Membranes in Low Temperature Fuel Cells†

Catalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells

Graphene-supported nanoelectrocatalysts for fuel cells: synthesis, properties, and applications.

On the mechanism of ethanol electro-oxidation on Pt and PtSn catalysts: electrochemical and in situ IR reflectance spectroscopy studies

Ethanol electrooxidation was investigated at platinum based electrodes: Pt, Pt—Sn, Pt—Re dispersed on a high surface area carbon powder. The atomic composition of the bimetallic catalyst was varied and the best results were obtained with an atomic ratio Pt:X close to 100:20. The electrocatalytic activity of Pt, PtSn and PtRe was compared using cyclic voltammetry and long-term electrolyses at constant potential. Under voltammetric conditions and in a single direct ethanol fuel cell, PtSn was the most active catalyst. During electrolysis ethanol was oxidized to acetaldehyde (AAL), acetic acid (AA) and carbon dioxide. On PtSn/C and PtRe/C, the ratio AA/AAL was found to be always lower than unity. Otherwise, PtSn electrocatalysts were the most selective towards the production of CO2 compared to Pt and PtRe electrodes.

Development of anode catalysts for a direct ethanol fuel cell

The basic principles of a direct alcohol fuel cell are first presented. Low temperature fuel cells (working between ambient temperature and 80–120 °C) need improved catalysts to reach performance levels sufficient for practical applications, particularly for the electric vehicle and for portable electronic devices. This is the case of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFC) for which the kinetics of the electrochemical reactions involved (oxidation of reformate hydrogen containing some traces of carbon monoxide, oxidation of alcohols, reduction of oxygen) is rather slow. Basic understanding of electrocatalysis is then examined, showing how to increase the reaction rate both by the nature and the structure of the catalytic electrode and by the electrode potential. Finally the most used Pt-based electrocatalysts to activate the electrode reactions occurring in a direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) are discussed on the basis of electrochemical, spectro-electrochemical and fuel cell experiments.

Electrocatalysis for the Direct Alcohol Fuel Cell

Electroactivity of tin modified platinum electrodes for ethanol electrooxidation

Electrochemical and spontaneous deposition of ruthenium at platinum electrodes for methanol oxidation: an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study

Fabrice Vigier

Papers

On the mechanism of ethanol electro-oxidation on Pt and PtSn catalysts: electrochemical and in situ IR reflectance spectroscopy studies

Development of anode catalysts for a direct ethanol fuel cell

Electrocatalysis for the Direct Alcohol Fuel Cell

Electroactivity of tin modified platinum electrodes for ethanol electrooxidation

Electrochemical and spontaneous deposition of ruthenium at platinum electrodes for methanol oxidation: an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study