Design of Direct Methanol Alkaline Fuel Cell with Anion Conductive Membrane Prepared by Plasma Polymerization

• Published in: ECS transactions Vol. 25; no. 13; pp. 61 - 70
• Main Authors: Sudoh, Masao, Niimi, Sachi, Takaoka, Naohiro, Watanabe, Masashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 22.02.2010
• ISSN: 1938-5862; 1938-6737
• DOI: 10.1149/1.3315173

Direct methanol alkaline fuel cells has been tested to suppress methanol crossover and to improve anodic activity in alkaline media. Plasma-polymerization with 4-vinylpridine and hexafluoropropene followed by quarternization using 1-bromopropane was conducted to prepare anion conductive ionomer in the catalyst layer and anion conductive membrane using porous film. The performance of direct methanol alkaline fuel cell with anion-conductive ionomer and membrane was compared with direct methanol fuel cell with proton exchange membrane at 60 {degree sign}C. The open circuit voltage using anion-conductive membrane was higher than using proton exchange membrane. Anion-conductive ionomer in catalyst layer improved cell performance. The water vapor in the cathode was starved by transport of electro-osmotic water with hydroxide anion. Plasma-polymerized membranes on various porous films were characterized by means of water uptake, ion conductivity and methanol permeability.