Anode structure design for generating high stable power output for direct ethanol fuel cells
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Publication Details
Author list: Ekdharmasuit P., Therdthianwong A., Therdthianwong S.
Publisher: Elsevier
Publication year: 2013
Journal: Fuel: The Science and Technology of Fuel and Energy (0016-2361)
Volume number: 113
Start page: 69
End page: 76
Number of pages: 8
ISSN: 0016-2361
Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)
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Abstract
Three anode structures, one without a microporous layer (MPL), one with a hydrophilic MPL, and one with a hydrophobic MPL, were tested for direct ethanol fuel cells. The quick-scan polarization curve obtained from the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) without MPL exhibited a higher performance than those with MPL. From the anode potential measurement, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis and constant-current discharge measurement, it was proven that the existence of MPL at the anode diffusion layer could limit ethanol mass transport in the flow channel to the anode catalyst layer (CL), resulting in a low ethanol concentration in the anode CL, especially at higher current density operation. Moreover, the MEA with hydrophilic MPL showed lower cell performance than the one with hydrophobic MPL. The swelling of the Nafion ionomer at full hydration decreased pore size and porosity in the anode MPL, which then hindered the ethanol transport to the anode catalyst layer. Finally, it can be concluded that the negative effect from ethanol crossover seems to be less significant than the positive influence when keeping ethanol concentration high in the anode catalyst layer. ฉ 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Anode diffusion layer, Direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC), Ethanol crossover, Microporous layer (MPL), Wettability