Fuel DAFC-type cells

Considering all the types of Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells (DAFC) currently in development, that using methanol (DMFC) is closer to massive commercialization. DMFC exhibits higher current and power densities than fuel cells using ethanol, ethylene glycol, etc., mainly due to the difficulty for breaking the C-C bonds of higher alcohols. For this reason this Chapter will be mainly devoted to review the applications of DMFC. 

An additional fact to consider for the use of portahle DAFC is the regulatirm for carrying flammable organic Uquids in aircrafts. The Intematimial Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has approved the transport of certain types of fuel cells, and refill cartridges in aircraft cabins. Particularly, it allows the transport of a device (i.e. mobile phones, laptops, etc.) powered by a fuel cell (using methanol, formic acid or butane) and two refill cartridges, with a maximum volume of 200 cm [16,17]. 

Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells (DAFC). DAFC (or, more commonly, direct methanol fuel cells or DMFC) use alcohol without reforming. Mostly, this refers to a PEFC-type fuel cell in which methanol or another alcohol is used directly, mainly for portable applications. A more detailed description of the DMFC or DAFC is provided in Chapter 3 ... 

Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) are a type of proton exchange membrane fuel cell in which alcohol is directly used as fuel. The majority of the studies about such type of fuel cells have been conducted by using methanol as fuel, leading to the so-called Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs). However, the use of ethanol, rather than methanol, as fuel is attracting a great deal of attention. This is because ethanol is, or can be, obtained from renewable sources such as sugarcane in which case, the energy obtained by Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells (DEFCs) could result in net zero CO2 emissions. Furthermore, ethanol is less toxic and less... 

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