• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.775-780
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• 2011

5-cell DMFC stack was fabricated and operated with the load of 4 A for 4000 hrs. After 4000 hrs operation peak power density of the stack reduced by 27.3%. Two of the five cells did now show performance degradation, the performance of other two was reduced by 40% and the performance of the other decreased by 60%. The amount of performance degradation of each cell by long-term operation did not correlate with the position in the stack. Platinum particle size in the anode catalyst layer of the MEA with the strongest degradation increased and the increase was severer on the position of methanol inlet than on the position of methanol outlet. However, platinum particle size in the cathode catalyst layers did not changed for all the MEA'. Ruthenium crossover from the anode catalyst layer to the cathode catalyst layer through the membrane was observed after 4,000 hrs operation by SEM-EDX and it occurred for all MEA' regardless of the degree of performance degradation. Atomic ratio of ruthenium to platinum in the cathode catalyst layer was the highest in the MEA with the strongest performance degradation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.965-970
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• 2012

In this study, the water distribution in the cathode side of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is visualized using a neutron imaging technique at the Neutron Radiography Facility (NRF), KAERI. It is difficult to quantify the water content in the cathode side because of $CO_2$ gas. A compared open circuit voltage (OCV) image, relative $CO_2$, and water distribution can be visualized by the neutron imaging technique. This means that the neutron imaging technique is useful for the optimization of the flow field design and the establishment of water management, and, in turn, for the improvement of the cell performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of IIIuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.255-258
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• 2008

In this paper, the battery charging device using DMFC(Direct Methanol Fuel Cell) for electric bicycle is proposed. In the proposed system, phase-shift full-bridge converter is used as a battery charger by boosting the 12V DMFC output voltage up to 36V. By using the phase-shift technique, the ringing of the transformer is reduced and the efficiency of the converter can be improved. The operation modes of proposed phase-shift full-bridge converter is analyzed and verified by the simulation and the experimental results.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.148-154
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• 2009

With respect to the durability of large scale ($150cm^2$) membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), degradation phenomena at cathode is monitored and analyzed according to the position on the cathode surface. After constant current mode operation of large scale MEA for 500 hr, the MEA is divided into three parts along the cathode channel; (close to) inlet, middle, and (close to) outlet. The performance of each MEA is tested and it is revealed that the MEA from the cathode outlet of large MEA shows the worst performance. This is due to the catalyst degradation and GDL delamination caused by flooding at cathode outlet of large MEA during the 500 hr operation. Particularly on the catalyst degradation, the loss of electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of catalyst gets worse along the cathode channel from inlet to outlet, of which the reason is believed to be loss of catalysts by dissolution and migration rather than their agglomeration. The extent of loss in the performance and catalyst degradation has strong relation to the cathode flooding and it is required to develop proper water management techniques and separator channel design to control the flooding.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.981-985
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• 2007

We present a MEMS-based portable Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (micro-DFMC), featured by a platinum sputtered microcolumn electrode and a built-in fuel chamber containing a limited amount of methanol fuel. Also presented is a micro-DMFC stack structure having a common electrolyte sandwiched by the microcolumn electrodes. The single cells with ME16 and PE16 electrodes show the maximum power densities of $31.04{\pm}0.29{\mu}W/cm^2$ and $9.75{\pm}0.29{\mu}W/cm^2$, respectively; thus indicating the microcolumn electrode (ME16) generates the power density (3.2 times) higher than the planar electrode (PE16). The single cell tests of ME16 and ME4 electrodes (Fig.8) show the maximum power of $31.04{\pm}0.29{\mu}W/cm^2$, and $25.23{\pm}2.7{\mu}W/cm^2$, respectively; thus demonstrating the increased window frame reduces the normalized standard power deviation (standard deviation over the average power). The normalized deviation of 0.11 in ME4 cell has been reduced to 0.01 in ME16 cell due to the increased window frames. The maximum power density of 4-cell stack is 15.7 times higher than that of the single cell. 4-cell stack produces the power capacity of 20.3mWh/g during 980min operation at the voltage of 450mV with the load resistance of $800{\Omega}$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2005.07a
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• pp.611-612
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• 2005

Fuel cells is proved that potential energy is greater than the existing power generation. In this paper, we describe a principle of fuel cell which is used for next generation portable battery and brief characteristic of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) that used for portable appliances by miniaturization of polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Lastly we describe about research investment for fuel cells.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.12 no.2 s.49
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• pp.117-121
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• 2005

Platinum catalysts for the DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell) were impregnated on several carbon supports and their catalytic activities were evaluated with cyclic voltammograms of methanol electro-oxidation. To increase the activities of the Pt/C catalyst, carbon supports with high electric conductivity such as mesoporous carbon, carbon nanofiber, and carbon nanotube were employed. The Pt/e-CNF (etched carbon nanofiber) catalyst showed higher maximum current density of $70 mA cm^{-2}$ and lower on-set voltage of 0.54 V vs. NHE than the Pt/Vulcan XC-72 in methanol oxidation. Although the carbon named by CNT (carbon nanotube) series turned out to have larger BET surface area than the carbon named by CNF (carbon nanofiber) series, the Pt catalysts supported on the CNT series were less active than those on the CNF series due to their lower electric conductivity and lower availability of pores for Pt loading. Considering that the BET surface area and electric conductivity of the e-CNF were similar to those of the Vulcan XC-72, smaller Pt particle size of the Pt/e-CNF catalyst and stronger metal-support interaction were believed to be the main reason for its higher catalytic activity.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.1142-1147
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• 2008

Nano-structured porous carbon fiber(PCF) for the catalyst supports of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) were prepared from the mesophase pitch by using the nano-MgO powders. Specific surface area of the PCFs was $8{\sim}58m^2/g$ and surface pore structures had almost meso pore diameter of 10~20 nm which were depending on the amount of MgO spheres. Aqueous reduction method was used to load 60 wt% PtRu on the prepared PCF supports. The electro-oxidation activity and single cell performance of the 60 wt% Pt-Ru catalysts were measured by cyclic voltammetry and unit cell test. The performances of these catalysts increased by 5~10% compared with one of commercial catalyst.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.257-265
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• 2001

Placing a hydrogen conducting, methanol impermeable metallic barrier like palladium (Pd) is a well-known method for preventing methanol crossover through solid polymer electrolyte for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). Applying a bias potential between the anode and the barrier can further develop this concept so that the hydrogen transfer rate is enhanced. Since hydrogen diffuses in Pd as atomic form while it moves through nafion electrolyte as ion, it has to be reduced or oxidized whenever it passes the interface formed by Pd and the electrolyte. We performed experiments to measure the hydrogen transport through the Pd membrane placed in Nafion electrolyte of hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell (PEMFC). Applying a bias potential between the hydrogen electrode of the cell and the Pd membrane facilitated the hydrogen passage through the Pd membrane. The results show that the cell current measured with the Pd membrane placed reached almost 40 % the value measured with the cell without Pd membrane. It was found that the current flown through the bias path is only a few percent of the cell current.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.137.2-137.2
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• 2010

본 연구는 스테인리스 스틸(STS)을 직접메탄올 연료전지(DMFC)용 바이폴라 플레이트에 적용하기 위한 것이다. 약산성의 연료전지 환경에서 부식저항성을 향상시키고자 오스테나이트계 STS 316L과 페라이트계 STS 430에 UBM(unbalanced magnetron) DC sputter로 CrN 코팅막을 제작하였다. CrN이 코팅된 스테인리스 스틸은 부식특성, 접촉 저항 및 접촉각 등을 측정하여 무 코팅의 스테인리스 스틸과 특성을 비교하였다. 그리고 이들 재료의 연료전지(DMFC) 적용 가능성을 알아보기 위하여 단위전지로 제작하여 연료전지 성능 등을 측정하고 평가하였다. 무 코팅 스테인리스 스틸(STS 316L, STS 430)과 CrN 코팅 스테인리스 스틸의 부식저항 특성은 동전위와 정전위 실험으로 조사하였다. 동전위 부식 실험은 -0.4~1.0 V로 0.001 M의 황산용액 또는 메탄올을 첨가하여 질소 또는 공기의 환경에서 실험을 실시하였으며, 정전위 부식 실험은 0.4 V 또는 0.6 V에서 진행하였다. 연료전지의 단전지 측정은 실제 DMFC의 운전조건에서 실시하였다. 부식실험과 단전지 실험 전/후 메탈 바이폴라 플레이트의 조직 변화는 SEM을 통해 관찰하였고, 부식산화물의 화학적 조성과 메탈 바이폴라의 표면은 EDS를 이용하여 측정하였다.