A methanol sensor for portable direct methanol fuel cells

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1998 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1838873· OSTI ID:289406

Barton, S A.C.; West, A C ^[1]; Murach, B L; Fuller, T F ^[2]

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1. Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
2. International Fuel Cells, South Windsor, CT (United States)

An aqueous methanol sensor for portable direct methanol fuel cell applications is demonstrated. The design is based on current output limited by methanol diffusion through a Nafion 117 perfluorosulfonic acid membrane. Steady-state polarization measurements demonstrate sensitivity to concentrations of 0 to 4 M over a temperature range of 40 to 80C. Furthermore, a correlation that is first order in concentration and temperature is demonstrated for concentrations of 0 to 3 M, with an accuracy of {+-}0.1 M. Measurements of transient response to step concentration change indicate a response time of about 10 to 50 s, depending primarily on temperature.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 289406
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 145, Issue 11; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1998
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ALCOHOL FUEL CELLS
METHANOL
MONITORING
DESIGN
CONCENTRATION RATIO
PERFORMANCE
ON-LINE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS