Using Heteropolyacids in the Anode Catalyst Layer of Dimethyl Ether PEM Fuel Cells

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2008 · ECS Transactions

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2982021· OSTI ID:1023085

Ferrell, III, J R; Turner, J A; Herring, A M

In this study, polarization experiments were performed on a direct dimethyl ether fuel cell (DMEFC). The experimental setup allowed for independent control of water and DME flow rates. Thus the DME flow rate, backpressure, and water flow rate were optimized. Three heteropoly acids, phosphomolybdic acid (PMA), phosphotungstic acid (PTA), and silicotungstic acid (STA) were incorporated into the anode catalyst layer in combination with Pt/C. Both PTA-Pt and STA-Pt showed higher performance than the Pt control at 30 psig of backpressure. Anodic polarizations were also performed, and Tafel slopes were extracted from the data. The trends in the Tafel slope values are in agreement with the polarization data. The addition of phosphotungstic acid more than doubled the power density of the fuel cell, compared to the Pt control.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1023085
• Journal Information: ECS Transactions, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2008
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ANODES
CATALYSTS
FLOW RATE
FUEL CELLS
INORGANIC ACIDS
METHYL ETHER
MOLYBDOPHOSPHORIC ACID
PERFORMANCE
POLARIZATION
POWER DENSITY
TUNGSTOPHOSPHORIC ACID
WATER
Energy Sciences