Direct alcohol alkaline fuel cell

Matsuoka K, Iriyama Y, Abe T, Matsuoka M, Ogumi Z. 2005. Alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells using an anion exchange membrane. J Power Sources 150 27-31. 

The faster kinetics of alcohol oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions in alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells opens up the possibility of using less expensive Pt-free catalysts, as nickel, gold, palladium and their alloys [30]. Thus, the cost of ADAFC could be potentially lower compared to the acid DAFC technology if non-precious metal alloys are used for the alcohol electrooxidation, being the nanoparticulated Ni-Fe-Co alloys developed by Acta (Italy) with the trade name of HYPERMEC a good example. 

Anion-exchange membranes are also discussed in Chap. 6 because of the facile electro-oxidation of alcohols in alkaline media and because of the minimization of alcohol crossover in alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells. 

Reviews on DEFC become available since 2006, describing the state of the art of catalysts for ethanol oxidation [31, 76, 77], while more recent works focused oti alkaline DEFC [78-80]. A comprehensive review on alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells was recently published by one of us [30] over viewing catalysts, membranes and cell performance of ADAFC fuelled with methanol, ethanol, and ethylene glycol. 

Antolini E, Gonzalez ER (2010) Alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells. J Power Sources 195 3431-3450... 

The vast catalogue of polymeric materials reviewed here included Nafion composite with inorganic and organic fillers, and non-fluorinated proton conducting membranes such as sulfonated polyimides, poly(arylene ether)s, polysulfones, poly (vinyl alcohol), polystyrenes, and acid-doped polybenzimidazoles. Anion-exchange membranes are also discussed because of the facile electro-oxidation of alcohols in alkaline media and because of the minimizatirHi of alcohol crossover in alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells. 

Yang CC, Chiu SJ, Lee KT, Chien WC, Lin CT, Huang CA (2008) Study of poly(vinyl alcohol)/titanium oxide composite polymer membranes and their application on alkaline direct alcohol fuel cell. J Power Sources 184 44-51... 

In the first chapter, we introduce the concept of methanol economy, as an alternative to the most popular but still elusive hydrogen economy, and we also provide a brief historical description of fundamental research on electrochemical oxidation of methanol and the development of the first alkaline direct methanol fuel cells more than 60 years ago. The operating principles of PEM and alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells are analyzed, as well as their components, configuration, and operation modes, with a final remark on the state of the art of the technology. 

Anode Catalysts for Alkaline Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells and Characteristics of the Catalyst Layer... 

Abstract The faster kinetics of the alcohol oxidation reaction in alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells (ADAFCs), opening up the possibility of using less expensive metal catalysts, as silver, nickel, and palladium, makes the alkaline direct alcohol fuel cell a potentially low-cost technology compared to acid direct alcohol fuel cell technology, which employs platinum catalysts. In this work an overview of catalysts for ADAFCs, and of testing of ADAFCs, fuelled with methanol, ethanol, and ethylene glycol, formed by these materials, is presented. 

In this work an overview of anode catalysts for alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells, and reports of the testing of these materials in alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells fuelled with Ci (methanol) and C2 (ethanol and ethylene glycol) alcohols, is presented. 

Chen YG, Zhuang L, Lu JT (2007) Non-Pt anode catalysts for alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells. Chinese J Catal 28(10) 870-874... 

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