Direct-ethanol fuel cell

Lamy C, Rousseau S, Belgsir EM, Coutanceau C, Leger JM. 2004. Recent progress in the direct ethanol fuel cell Development of new platinum-tin electrocatalysts. Electrochim Acta 49 3901-3908. 

Rousseau S, Coutanceau C, Lamy C, Leger JM. 2006. Direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) Electrical performances and reaction products distribution under operating conditions with different platinum-based anodes. J Power Sources 158 18-24. 

Vigier F, Coutanceau C, Perrard A, Belgsir EM, Lamy C. 2004b. Development of anode catalysts for a direct ethanol fuel cell. J Appl Electrochem 34 439-446. 

Zhou WJ, Li WZ, Song SQ, Zhou ZH, Jiang LH, Sun GQ, Xin Q, Poulianitis K, Kontou S, Tsiakaras P. 2004a. Bi- and tri-metaUic Pt-based anode catalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells. J Power Sources 131 217-223. 

Zhou WJ, Song SQ, Li WZ, Zhou ZH, Srm GQ, Xin Q, Douvartzides S, Tsiakaras P. 2005. Direct ethanol fuel cells based on PtSn anodes The effect of Sn content on the fuel cell performance. J Power Sources 140 50-58. 

Lamy, C., Coutanceau, C., and Leger, J.-M. (2009) The direct ethanol fuel cell a challenge to convert bioethanol cleanly into electric energy, in Catalysis for Sustainable Energy Production, (eds P. Barbaro and C. Bianchini), Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, pp. 3-46. 

Chu, D., Wang, S., Zheng, P., Wang, J., Zha, L Hou, Y He, J., Xiao, Y Lin, H and Tian, Z. (2009) Anode catalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells utilizing directly solar light illumination. ChemSusChem,... 

Song, H Qiu, X., Guo, D., and Li, F. (2008) Role of structural H2O in Ti02 nanotubes in enhancing Pt/C direct ethanol fuel cell anode electro-catalysts. Journal of Power Sources, 178 (1), 97-102. 

DCL DDGS DEFC DICI DISI DME DMFC DOE DP DPF Direct coal liquefaction Distillers dried grains with solubles Direct ethanol fuel cell Direct-injection compression ignition Direct-injection spark ignition Dimethylether Direct methanol fuel cell Department of Energy (USA) Dynamic programming Diesel particulate filter... 

The advantage of producing liquid hydrocarbons instead of ethanol is that it avoids the need to change the complex and costly infrastructure for fuel distribution and use (engines), and on-board (on car) or on-site (at the fuel pump) reforming to H2. With respect to this alternative it would be preferable to use directly ethanol fuel cells (see next section). 

Carbon-Supported Core-Shell PtSn Nanoparticles Synthesis, Characterization and Performance as Anode Catalysts for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell... 

FIGURE 15.9. Performance comparison of RSn anode based direct ethanol fuel cells at 90°C. Anode catalysts Carbon supported PtSn with a R loading of 1.5 mg/cm, ethanol concentration 1.0 mol/L, flow rate 1.0 mL/min. Cathode (20 Pt wt.%, Johnson Matthey Inc.) with a R loading of 1.0 mg/cm, Pq2 = 2 bar. Electrolyte Naflon -115 membrane. 

Shao et al. [35] not only used a similar Ti mesh to the one presented by Scott s group but also used a Ti mesh as the cathode DL in a DMFC. The main difference between both meshes was that the one used on the cathode side was coated on both sides with carbon black (Vulcan XC-72) and PTFE (i.e., with MPLs on each side). It was shown that this novel cathode DL performed similarly to conventional CFP DLs under comparable conditions. Chetty and Scott [36] also used a catalyzed Ti mesh as the anode DL, but in a direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) it performed better compared to a cell with a standard DL (CFP). 

Aravamudhan, Rahman, and Bhansali. [70] developed a micro direct ethanol fuel cell with silicon diffusion layers. Each silicon substrate had a number of straight micropores or holes that were formed using microelec-tromechanical system (MEMS) fabrication techniques. The pores acted both as microcapillaries/wicking structures and as built-in fuel reservoirs. The capillary action of the microperforations pumps the fuel toward the reaction sites located at the CL. Again, the size and pattern of these perforations could be modified depending on the desired properties or parameters. Lee and Chuang [71] also used a silicon substrate and machined microperforations and microchannels on it in order to use it as the cathode diffusion layer and FF channel plate in a micro-PEMFC. 

R. Chetty and K. Scott. Direct ethanol fuel cells with catalyzed metal mesh anodes. Electrochimica Acta 52 (2007) 4073-4081. 

S. Aravamudhan, A. R. A. Rahman, and S. Bhansali. Porous silicon-based orientation independent, self-priming micro direct ethanol fuel cell. Sensors Actuators A 123-124 (2005) 497-504. 

The Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell a Challenge to Convert Bioethanol Cleanly into Electric Energy... 

DMFCs and direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) are based on the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEM FC), where hydrogen is replaced by the alcohol, so that both the principles of the PEMFC and the direct alcohol fuel cell (DAFC), in which the alcohol reacts directly at the fuel cell anode without any reforming process, will be discussed in this chapter. Then, because of the low operating temperatures of these fuel cells working in an acidic environment (due to the protonic membrane), the activation of the alcohol oxidation by convenient catalysts (usually containing platinum) is still a severe problem, which will be discussed in the context of electrocatalysis. One way to overcome this problem is to use an alkaline membrane (conducting, e.g., by the hydroxyl anion, OH ), in which medium the kinetics of the electrochemical reactions involved are faster than in an acidic medium, and then to develop the solid alkaline membrane fuel cell (SAMFC). 

After rehearsing the working principles and presenting the different kinds of fuel cells, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), which can operate from ambient temperature to 70-80 °C, and the direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC), which has to work at higher temperatures (up to 120-150 °C) to improve its electric performance, will be particularly discussed. Finally, the solid alkaline membrane fuel cell (SAMFC) will be presented in more detail, including the electrochemical reactions involved. 

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