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Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells: Toward the Power Densities of Hydrogen‐Fed Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Author(s) -
Chen Yanxin,
Bellini Marco,
Bevilacqua Manuela,
Fornasiero Paolo,
Lavacchi Alessandro,
Miller Hamish A.,
Wang Lianqin,
Vizza Francesco
Publication year - 2015
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.201402999
Subject(s) - anode , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , direct ethanol fuel cell , ethylene glycol , power density , aqueous solution , electrode , vinyl alcohol , chemical engineering , catalysis , materials science , electrochemistry , hydrogen , membrane electrode assembly , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , power (physics) , physics , polymer , quantum mechanics , engineering
A 2 μm thick layer of TiO 2 nanotube arrays was prepared on the surface of the Ti fibers of a nonwoven web electrode. After it was doped with Pd nanoparticles (1.5 mg Pd cm −2 ), this anode was employed in a direct alcohol fuel cell. Peak power densities of 210, 170, and 160 mW cm −2 at 80 °C were produced if the cell was fed with 10 wt % aqueous solutions of ethanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol, respectively, in 2 M aqueous KOH. The Pd loading of the anode was increased to 6 mg cm −2 by combining four single electrodes to produce a maximum peak power density with ethanol at 80 °C of 335 mW cm −2 . Such high power densities result from a combination of the open 3 D structure of the anode electrode and the high electrochemically active surface area of the Pd catalyst, which promote very fast kinetics for alcohol electro‐oxidation. The peak power and current densities obtained with ethanol at 80 °C approach the output of H 2 ‐fed proton exchange membrane fuel cells.