Electrolyte membrane Future directions

The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol has been widely investigated for exploitation in the so-called direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The most likely type of DMFC to be commercialized in the near future seems to be the polymer electrolyte membrane DMFC using proton exchange membrane, a special form of low-temperature fuel cell based on PEM technology. In this cell, methanol (a liquid fuel available at low cost, easily handled, stored, and transported) is dissolved in an acid electrolyte and burned directly by air to carbon dioxide. The prominence of the DMFCs with respect to safety, simple device fabrication, and low cost has rendered them promising candidates for applications ranging from portable power sources to secondary cells for prospective electric vehicles. Notwithstanding, DMFCs were... 

These preliminary results are a first demonstration that the shape-selected particles concept may work in a realistic fuel cell environment. Future research will focus on degradation and stability tests of the novel materials as well as their application in other fuel cell types, as for instance direct methanol fuel cells and high-temperature pol)uner electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Moreover, the effect of the surfactant requires special attention, as the surfactant molecules may also influence the electrocatalysis by a ligand effect or an ensemble effect directing the adsorption of reactants to specific surface sites. 

Deluca, N.W., Elabd, Y.A. (2006) Polymer electrolyte membranes for the direct methanol fuel cell a review. Journal of Polymer Science Part B Polymer Physics, 44, 2201-2225. Sopian, K., Wan Daud, W.R. (2006) Challenges and future developments in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Renewable Energy, 31, 719-727. 

The future of ISEs in the clinical chemistry instrumentation is quite exciting. As described in subsequent sections of this article, the coupling of enzyme and immunological reagents to ISE detectors to form bioelectrode systems appears to offer manufacturers a new approach toward the detection of metabolites such as creatinine and urea directly in blood and urine samples. Ultimately, such biosensors will be placed into complete electrode-based automated clinical analyzers. In addition, continued research on new membrane formulations, particularly liquid membrane ionophore systems, will result in the development of addition electrodes which can be incorporated into current analyzer systems to expand the electrolyte menu. Indeed, recent efforts have indicated that membranes selective fi)r bicarbonate (F5) and lithium (Z2) are likely additions in the near future. 

This article aims at describing the microstructure and transport properties of these polymeric membranes from an electrochemical point of view. It is intended to provide some direction for the future development of high-performance membrane cells in industrial electrolytic or separation processes. 

The advantages of using room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) electrolyte in membrane-coated electrode as an O2 gas sensor compared to solid electrolyte gas sensors and classic Clark-type gas sensors included easy constraction and the ability to operate at ambient temperature. This would be the direction for future ambient temperature oxygen sensor development. 

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