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Tolerant Chalcogenide Cathodes of Membraneless Micro Fuel Cells
Author(s) -
Gago Aldo Saul,
GochiPonce Yadira,
Feng YongJun,
Esquivel Juan Pablo,
Sabaté Neus,
Santander Joaquin,
AlonsoVante Nicolas
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201200009
Subject(s) - cathode , platinum , anode , nafion , materials science , chemical engineering , power density , direct ethanol fuel cell , chemistry , electrochemistry , catalysis , electrode , organic chemistry , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
The most critical issues to overcome in micro direct methanol fuel cells (μDMFCs) are the lack of tolerance of the platinum cathode and fuel crossover through the polymer membrane. Thus, two novel tolerant cathodes of a membraneless microlaminar‐flow fuel cell (μLFFC), Pt x S y and CoSe 2 , were developed. The multichannel structure of the system was microfabricated in SU‐8 polymer. A commercial platinum cathode served for comparison. When using 5 M CH 3 OH as the fuel, maximum power densities of 6.5, 4, and 0.23 mW cm −2 were achieved for the μLFFC with Pt, Pt x S y , and CoSe 2 cathodes, respectively. The Pt x S y cathode outperformed Pt in the same fuel cell when using CH 3 OH at concentrations above 10 M . In a situation where fuel crossover is 100 %, that is, mixing the fuel with the reactant, the maximum power density of the micro fuel cell with Pt decreased by 80 %. However, for Pt x S y this decrease corresponded to 35 % and for CoSe 2 there was no change in performance. This result is the consequence of the high tolerance of the chalcogenide‐based cathodes. When using 10 M HCOOH and a palladium‐based anode, the μLFFC with a CoSe 2 cathode achieved a maxiumum power density of 1.04 mW cm −2 . This micro fuel cell does not contain either Nafion membrane or platinum. We report, for the first time, the evaluation of Pt x S y ‐ and CoSe 2 ‐based cathodes in membraneless micro fuel cells. The results suggest the development of a novel system that is not size restricted and its operation is mainly based on the selectivity of its electrodes.