Review and advances of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) part I: Design, fabrication, and testing with high concentration methanol solutions

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 226; pp. 223 - 240
• Main Authors: Li, Xianglin, Faghri, Amir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.03.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Direct methanol fuel cell; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cell stacks; Fuel cells; High concentration methanol; Methanol crossover; Portable power; Water management; High concentration methanol; Water management; Direct methanol fuel cell; Methanol crossover; Fuel cell stacks; Portable power; Water; Oxygen; Prototype; Stacking; Cross-over phenomenon; Carbon dioxide; Alcohol fuel cells; Water flow; Experimental study; Semi-active system; Fuel cell; Methanol
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.10.061

A review of the experimental studies on passive and semi-passive direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) is conducted, with an emphasis on high concentration methanol and pure methanol. Key issues such as methanol transport, water management, oxygen transport, and carbon dioxide release in the DMFC are analyzed in detail. The design and fabrication, development approaches, challenges and opportunities on DMFCs passively fed with high concentration methanol are discussed. The advances of DMFC stacks and prototype developments are presented. Several unresolved issues and challenges in DMFCs are identified and reviewed in detail. ► The experimental studies on direct methanol fuel cells using high concentration methanol and pure methanol has been reviewed. ► Methanol transport, water management, oxygen transport, and carbon dioxide release in DMFCs have been analyzed. ► The improvements on DMFC design and the advances of DMFC stacks and prototype developments have been presented. ► Unresolved issues and challenges in DMFCs have been identified and reviewed.