Natural polymers fuel cells

Proietti E, Jaouen F, Lefevre M, Larouche N, Tian J, Herranz J, Dodelet JP (2011) Irtm-based cathode catalyst with enhanced power density in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Nature Comm 2 doi 10.1038/ncommsl427... 

Thousands of smaller stationary fuel cells of less than 10 kilowatts each have been built and operated to power homes and provide backup power. Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells fueled with natural gas or hydrogen are the primary units for these smaller systems. 

Figure 26. Schematic of a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The fuel cell stacks operate at 30—180 °C with 30—60% efficiency. Fuel options include pure hydrogen, methanol, natural gas, and gasoline.

The beginning of modeling of polymer-electrolyte fuel cells can actually be traced back to phosphoric-acid fuel cells. These systems are very similar in terms of their porous-electrode nature, with only the electrolyte being different, namely, a liquid. Giner and Hunter and Cutlip and co-workers proposed the first such models. These models account for diffusion and reaction in the gas-diffusion electrodes. These processes were also examined later with porous-electrode theory. While the phosphoric-acid fuel-cell models became more refined, polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells began getting much more attention, especially experimentally. 

Direct-methanol fuel cell (DMFC) — This type of -+fuel cell is similar to the - polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cell in what concerns the nature of the -> electrolyte -a proton conducting membrane, such as a perfluorosul-fonic acid polymer. In the DMFC the fuel is -> methanol (CH3OH) which is oxidized in the presence of water at the anode and the resulting protons migrate through the electrolyte to combine with the -> oxygen, usually from air, at the cathode to form water ... 

Fuel cells are classified primarily according to the nature of the electrolyte. Moreover, the nature of the electrolyte governs the choices of the electrodes and the operation temperatures. Shown in table 10.1 are the fuel cell technologies currently under development. "" Technologies attracting attention toward development and commercialization include direct methanol (DMFC), polymer electrolyte membrane (PEMFC), solid-acid (SAFC), phosphoric acid (PAFC), alkaline (AFC), molten carbonate (MCFC), and solid-oxide (SOFC) fuel cells. This chapter is aimed at the solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and related electrolytes used for the fabrication of cells. 

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