Methods of conditioning direct methanol fuel cells
Abstract
Methods for conditioning the membrane electrode assembly of a direct methanol fuel cell ("DMFC") are disclosed. In a first method, an electrical current of polarity opposite to that used in a functioning direct methanol fuel cell is passed through the anode surface of the membrane electrode assembly. In a second method, methanol is supplied to an anode surface of the membrane electrode assembly, allowed to cross over the polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly to a cathode surface of the membrane electrode assembly, and an electrical current of polarity opposite to that in a functioning direct methanol fuel cell is drawn through the membrane electrode assembly, wherein methanol is oxidized at the cathode surface of the membrane electrode assembly while the catalyst on the anode surface is reduced. Surface oxides on the direct methanol fuel cell anode catalyst of the membrane electrode assembly are thereby reduced.
- Inventors:
-
- Newington, CT
- Menands, NY
- Niskayuna, NY
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1007906
- Patent Number(s):
- 6962760
- Application Number:
- 10/460,452
- Assignee:
- The Regents of the University of California (Los Alamos, NM)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Citation Formats
Rice, Cynthia, Ren, Xiaoming, and Gottesfeld, Shimshon. Methods of conditioning direct methanol fuel cells. United States: N. p., 2005.
Web.
Rice, Cynthia, Ren, Xiaoming, & Gottesfeld, Shimshon. Methods of conditioning direct methanol fuel cells. United States.
Rice, Cynthia, Ren, Xiaoming, and Gottesfeld, Shimshon. Tue .
"Methods of conditioning direct methanol fuel cells". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1007906.
@article{osti_1007906,
title = {Methods of conditioning direct methanol fuel cells},
author = {Rice, Cynthia and Ren, Xiaoming and Gottesfeld, Shimshon},
abstractNote = {Methods for conditioning the membrane electrode assembly of a direct methanol fuel cell ("DMFC") are disclosed. In a first method, an electrical current of polarity opposite to that used in a functioning direct methanol fuel cell is passed through the anode surface of the membrane electrode assembly. In a second method, methanol is supplied to an anode surface of the membrane electrode assembly, allowed to cross over the polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly to a cathode surface of the membrane electrode assembly, and an electrical current of polarity opposite to that in a functioning direct methanol fuel cell is drawn through the membrane electrode assembly, wherein methanol is oxidized at the cathode surface of the membrane electrode assembly while the catalyst on the anode surface is reduced. Surface oxides on the direct methanol fuel cell anode catalyst of the membrane electrode assembly are thereby reduced.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 08 00:00:00 EST 2005},
month = {Tue Nov 08 00:00:00 EST 2005}
}