Membraneless direct methanol fuel cell

Another important future area for diffusion layers is the use of three-dimensional catalyzed diffusion layers for liquid-based fuel cells. This allows the three-phase active zone to be extended into the diffusion layer to increase performance and utilization and reduce crossover [276,277]. Recent work by Lam, Wilkinson, and Zhang [278] has shown the scaleable use of this concept to create a membraneless direct methanol fuel cell. In other work by Fatih et al. [279], the... 

A. Lam, D. P. Wilkinson, and J. Zhang. Novel approach to membraneless direct methanol fuel cells using advanced 3D anodes. Electrochimica Acta 53 (2008) 6890-6898. 

Wilkinson and coworkers also tested a membraneless direct methanol fuel cell, built by replacing the PEM by an open spacer filled with liquid electrolyte (aqueous H2SO4). Reasonable power densities (close to 10 mW.cm ) were reached, and the main aim of the new architecture, to control the total power output of the cell, was achieved by disrupting the TPR with a physical guard on or within the electrode assembly [42]. 

Tominaka S, Ohta S, Obata H, Momma T, Osaka T (2008) On-chip fuel cell micro direct methanol fuel cell of an air-breathing, membraneless, and monolithic design. J Am Chem Soc 130 10456-10457... 

Because of the higher energy density and better safety of liquid fuels compared with gaseous hydrogen, the types of fuel cell under active development usually includes direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) [4], direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs) [5], proton exchange fuel cells (PEMFCs) run by hydrogen generated from metal hydride [6], and membraneless microfluidic fuel cells [7]. 

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