Hdi nghi Khoa hgc ky niem 35 ndm Viin Khoa hgc vd Cdng nghi Viet Nam - Hd Ndi 10/2010<br />
<br />
<br />
HIEU S U A T CUA PIN NHIEN LIEU METHANOL LONG<br />
<br />
Nguyen Lu-dng Lam, Nguyin Trong TTnh<br />
Institute of Applied Physics and Scientific Instmment<br />
18 - Hoang Qudc Viet, Ciu Giiy, Ha Ndi<br />
Email: nllaml95(a),vahoo.com<br />
Tom tat:<br />
Pin nhien lieu Methanol Idng (DMFC) Id mot thiit bi diin hda, nd cd thi<br />
chuyin hda true tiip ndng lugng hda hoc (d ddy Id ndng lugng hda hoc ciia<br />
Methanlo Idng) thdnh ndng lugng dien. Pin DMFC dugc nghien cieu trong trudng<br />
hgp ndy cd chdt xiic tdc su dung cho cue Anode Id bdt Ru-Pt khdi lugng sit dung<br />
Id 4mg/cm2. Cdn chdt xuc tdc dimg cho cue Cathode Id bdt Pt, khdi lugng sit<br />
dung Id 2mg/cm2. Mdng trao ddi Proton dugc sit dung cho Pin DMFC Id mdng<br />
Naflon 117. Hiiu sudt cita Pin DMFC dugc ddnh gid thdng qua cdc diiu kiin nhu<br />
ndng do cita Methanol vd nhiet do cita Pin.<br />
Key words: DMFC, Ru-Pt, Pt, Naflon 117<br />
Abstract:<br />
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) is an electrochemical device that can<br />
converts Methanol chemical energy to electrical energy directly. DMFC was<br />
studied in this case as Catalyst for anode is Ruthenium-Platinum powders and<br />
catalyst loading is 4mg/cm^. Catalyst for cathode is Platinum powder; catalyst<br />
loading is 2mg/cm . In this case proton membrane is Naflon 117. Performance<br />
will be discussed in terms of Methanol concentration and cell temperature.<br />
<br />
<br />
\. INTRODUCTION<br />
At the beginning of the 21'' century, the conversion of chemical energy into electrical<br />
energy became more important due to the increase in the use of electricity. One of the major<br />
factors that have influenced the development of fiiel cells has been the increasing concern<br />
about the environmental consequences of fossil fuel in production of electricity and for the<br />
propulsion of vehicles. The dependence of the industrialized countries on oil became apparent<br />
in the oil crises. One type of fiiel cells as a Direct Methanol Fuel Cells may help to reduce our<br />
dependence on fossil fuel and diminish poisonous emissions into the atmosphere, since they<br />
have higher electrical efficiencies compared to heat engines.<br />
A Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) is defined as an electrochemical device that can<br />
continuously convert chemical energy (Methanol) into electrical energy directly. Much like a<br />
battery, a fiiel cell produces electrical energy. However, unlike battery, reactants eire supplied<br />
continuously and products are continuously removed.<br />
The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) has been studied due to many merits: Methanol is<br />
a high energy fuel; a clean power is produced at low operating temperatures; membranes last<br />
longer due to operating in aqueous environment; reactant humidification is not required; the<br />
DMFC system has faster response and is smaller in volume [1-2].<br />
<br />
<br />
407<br />
Tiiu ban: Mdi tru&ng vd Ndng hcgng ISBN: 978-604-913-013-7<br />
<br />
<br />
In a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), methanol is oxidized at the anode and oxygen<br />
(usually in air) is reduced at the cathode [1]. The electrochemical oxidation of methanol (in<br />
acid electrolyte) occurs as follows:<br />
Anode reaction: CH3OH + H2O => CO2 +6H^ + 6e"<br />
Cathode reaction: 3/2O2 + 6H"' +6e" => 3H2O<br />
Overall cell reaction: CH3OH +3/2O2 => CO2 + 2H2O<br />
In this report, we present of performance of the direct methanol fuel cells have 5 cm active<br />
areas. An anode catalyst is commercial Ru-Pt powders and a cathode catalyst is commercial<br />
Pt powder.<br />
<br />
<br />
2. EXPERIMENTAL<br />
Preparation of diffusion layers: A carbon paper was used as a diffusion layer. Thickness of<br />
carbon paper is 0.2 mm. The dimensions are 2.23cmx2.23cm (5cm activity area). The<br />
diffusion processes facilitated a role of catalysts adhered on its surface.<br />
Preparation of anode catalyst: a catalyst material for anodes in this work that is PtRu black<br />
powder (50:50 atom ratios, Johnson Matthey Corp.). The catalyst was well-dispersed with 5%<br />
Nafion solution (Dupont) for 30 minutes, leading to a solution, namely, a catalyst ink. The<br />
catalyst ink was painted into a surface of a 5cm^ carbon paper (dimensions 2.23x2.23cm) with<br />
the catalyst loading of about 4mg/cm^. The catalyst/carbon paper was dried at room<br />
temperature before being assembled to a MEA (membrane electrolyte assembly).<br />
Preparation of cathode catalyst as same the way of anode but a catalyst for cathode only Pt<br />
powder and the catalyst loading is 2mg/cm^ (Johnson Matthey Corp.).<br />
Treatment of Nafion 117 membrane: a membrane is very crucial to the DMFCs electrode.<br />
It is called a heart of electrode because the membrane is a proton-conducting polymer. A<br />
commercial Nafion membrane used in this work was Nafion 117(Dupont, Fuel Cell Store). A<br />
membrane sheet was cut into several pieces of 4.28cm x 4.28cm. Pre-treatment of Nafion 117<br />
membrane was accomplished by heating membrane at 80 C in distilled water, 3% H2O2,<br />
distilled water, 0.5M H2SO4 and distilled water three times again, for 1 hour each step. After<br />
the treatment, the membrane was dried at room temperature for 2 hours and then stored in an<br />
oven at 80''C for 2 hours.<br />
A MEA (membrane electrolyte assembly) consists of anode, Nafion membrane and<br />
cathode. Assembly of electrodes is a finial step in preparation of the MEA. A detailed<br />
structure of MEA used in this work was anode (carbon paper/anode catalyst layer)/ Nafion<br />
117 membrane/cathode (cathode catalyst layer/carbon paper). In the MEA preparation, anode,<br />
Nafion membrane and cathode were hot-pressed at 130 C and 250kgcm"^ for 2 minutes and<br />
then cooled down by water to room temperature. More details on this MEA fabrication<br />
procedure have been given in Lu and Wang [3]<br />
Performances of the MEA have been measured by an electronic load following the<br />
diagram below:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
408<br />
Hoi nghi Khoa hoc ky niem 35 ndm Vien Khoa hoc va Cong nghe Viet Nam - Ha Noi 10/2010<br />
<br />
<br />
Out put: ( Oj.lljO. CO<br />
<br />
<br />
Switch valve<br />
I Kotamctcr<br />
lumidilier<br />
<br />
Oj / Air<br />
<br />
Pump<br />
OulI put: II^O<br />
II.O Heating Koiai^cter<br />
un-.'Sr;<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ClljOnC Liquid)!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Fig. 1: Schematic of an experimental setup<br />
<br />
<br />
3. RESULT AND DISCUSSION<br />
After the hot press process, we have achieved a MEA that has performance test following the<br />
schematic infig.2.A direct methanol fuel cell's performance characteristics are shown in fig.3:<br />
<br />
<br />
Oprerating temperatures<br />
• 90°C<br />
• 80°C<br />
A 65°C<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
0,00 0,05 0,10 0,15 0,20 0,25<br />
Current density (A/cm^)<br />
<br />
<br />
Fig. 2: Temperature dependency of performance of MEA at IM<br />
In fig.3 the MEA size is ~5cm^; electrolyte: Nafion 117: Anode: PtRu black powder<br />
(~4mgcm"^ loading); Cathode: Pt (~2mg cm"^ loading). Feed rate of MeOH of IM (ImL/min),<br />
flow rate of O2: 0.5L/min. The fig.3 shows that the maximum current densities at IM<br />
methanol solution at 90*'C are 0.18 A/cm^. This indicates that the cell performance is affected<br />
by the cell temperature that the performances decrease from temperature 90°C to 45°C.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
409<br />
Tieu ban: Mdi truang vd Ndng lugng ISBN: 978-604-913-013-7.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
— I ' 1 '—<br />
Oprerating temperatures:<br />
—•—so'c<br />
- « - 80°C<br />
.„.&_ 65°C<br />
--r-5S°c<br />
• 45°C<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
0,10 0,15 0,20 0,25<br />
Current density (A/cm')<br />
<br />
Fig. 3: Temperature dependency of performance of MEA at 2M<br />
Fig.4, the MEA size is ~5cm^; electrolyte: Nafion 117: Anode: PtRu black powder<br />
(~4mgcm"'^ loading); Cathode: Pt (~2mg cm"^ loading). Feed rate of MeOH of 2M (ImL/min),<br />
flow rate of O2: 0.5L/min. The fig.4 shows the performance of the MEA that the maximum<br />
current densities at 2M methanol solution at 90*^0 are 0.22 Aleve?. This indicates that the cell<br />
performance is affected by the cell temperature that the performances decrease from<br />
temperature 90''C to 45''C. When compared to the performance using IM methanol solution<br />
shovm in fig.3, the open circuit voltage with 2M solution shown in fig.4 drop somewhat due<br />
to the stronger methanol crossover effect. The MEA with 2M solution shovm better<br />
performance than IM solution.<br />
The MEA was fabricated that the type of the MEA using Nafion 117, made with the<br />
carbon paper have been investigated for its polarization characteristics at different methanol<br />
concentration and temperature cell. The performances depend on cell temperature and<br />
methanol concentration.<br />
<br />
<br />
4. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS<br />
This work was supported by Institute of Applied Physics and Scientific Instrument's<br />
fundamental research.<br />
<br />
<br />
REFERENCES<br />
1. Thomas S. and Zalbowits M., "Fuel Cell-Green Power, Los Alamos National<br />
Laboratory", LA-UR-99-3231 (1999).<br />
2. J.H Hirschenhofer, D.B. Stauffer, R.R Engleman, "In Fuel Cells: A Handbook<br />
(Revision 3) ", DOE/METC -94/10006,1994<br />
3. G.Q. Lu, C.Y. Wan, Jumal Power Sources 35,134 (2004).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
410<br />