DMFC Devices Using a PEM Structure

Fuel Cell Type Valence Reaction Equation E00(V) Ideal Cell Efficiency (%) 

1 Design and Operational Aspects of PEM-Based DMFC Devices 

All fuel cells have two electrodes one negative electrode and one positive electrode. In the case of DMFC, the electrical power is generated by the methanol fuel at the negative electrode, which is known as the anode, with the oxygen from the air at the positive electrode, which is called the cathode. Electrical energy is produced by the chemical reaction that occurs when the fuel, catalyst, and the electrolyte 

2 Causes for Reduced Conversion Efficiency and Power Density — Fuel cell scientists beheve that PEM-based DMFC devices using CH3OH as fuel typically operate at efficiencies anywhere between 20 and 30% because of limitations in the chemical reaction with the CH3OH. In particular, CH3OH crossover not only reduces the voltage and power density but also degrades the conversion efficiency of the device. 

Despite these shortcomings, this type of fuel cell offers some advantages. It can use the cheapest fuel and could use a gaseous fuel, liquid fuel, or a combination of the two under moderate-to-low-temperature environments [6]. This fuel cell offers the following advantages  

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