Assessment of methanol electro-oxidation for direct methanol-air fuel cells
The Office of Energy Storage and Distribution of the US Department of Energy (DOE) supports the development of a methanol-air fuel cell for transportation application. The approach used at Los Alamos National Laboratory converts the methanol fuel to a hydrogen-rich gas in a reformer, then operates the fuel cell on hydrogen and air. The reformer tends to be bulky (raising vehicle packaging problems), has a long startup period, and is not well suited for the transient operation required in a vehicle. Methanol, however, can be oxidized electrochemically in the fuel cell. If this process can be conducted efficiently, a direct methanol-air fuel cell can be used, which does not require a reformer. The objective of this study is to assess the potential of developing a suitable catalyst for the direct electrochemical oxidation of methanol. The primary conclusion of this study is that no acceptable catalysts exist can efficiently oxidize methanol electrochemically and have the desired cost and lifetime for vehicle applications. However, recent progress in understanding the mechanism of methanol oxidation indicates that a predictive base can be developed to search for methanol oxidation catalysts and can be used to methodically develop improved catalysts. Such an approach is strongly recommended. The study also recommends that until further progress in developing high-performance catalysts is achieved, research in cell design and testing is not warranted. 43 refs., 12 figs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 7129968
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-6077; ON: DE88014686
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
ALCOHOL FUEL CELLS
CATALYSTS
TESTING
METHANOL
OXIDATION
AIR
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTROLYTES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
ALCOHOLS
DATA
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
FLUIDS
FUEL CELLS
GASES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
VEHICLES
300505* - Fuel Cells- Electrochemistry
Mass Transfer & Thermodynamics
300504 - Fuel Cells- Applications
300503 - Fuel Cells- Materials
Components
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330300 - Advanced Propulsion Systems- Electric-Powered Systems