• Title/Summary/Keyword: Direct methanol fuel cells

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Synthesis and electrochemical analysis of Pt-loaded, polypyrrole-decorated, graphene-composite electrodes

  • Park, Jiyoung;Kim, Seok
    • Carbon letters
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    • v.14 no.2
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    • pp.117-120
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    • 2013
  • In this study, an electro-catalyst of Pt nanoparticles supported by polypyrrole-functionalized graphene (Pt/PPy-reduced graphene oxide [RGO]) is reported. The Pt nanoparticles are deposited on the PPy-RGO composite by chemical reduction of H2PtCl6 using NaBH4. The presence of graphene (RGO) caused higher activity. This might have been due to increased electro-chemically accessible surface areas, increased electronic conductivity, and easier charge-transfer at polymer-electrolyte interfaces, allowing higher dispersion and utilization of the deposited Pt nano-particles. Microstructure, morphology and crystallinity of the synthesized materials were investigated using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed successful deposition of Pt nano-particles, with crystallite size of about 2.7 nm, on the PPy-RGO support film. Catalytic activity for methanol electro-oxidation in fuel cells was investigated using cyclic voltammetry. The fundamental electrochemical test results indicated that the electro-catalytic activity, for methanol oxidation, of the Pt/PPy-RGO combination was much better than for commercial catalyst.

Control of Metal-Oxide Nanostructures for $H_{2}-Alcohol$ Fuel Cells (수소-알코올연료전지를 위한 금속-산화물 나노구조제어)

  • Park, Kyung-Won;Song, You-Jung;han, Sang-Beom;Lee, Jong-Min
    • 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2007.06a
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    • pp.141-145
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    • 2007
  • Due to their excellent catalytic activity with respect to methanol oxidation on platinum at low temperature, platinum nanosized catalysts have been a topic of great interest for use in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Since pure platinum is readily poisoned by CO, a by-product of methanol electrooxidation, and is extremely expensive, a number of efforts to design and characterize Pt-based alloy nanosized catalysts or Pt nanophase-support composites have been attempted in order to reduce or relieve the CO poisoning effect. In this review paper, we summarize these efforts based upon our recent research results. The Pt-based nanocatalysts were designed by chemical synthesis and thin-film technology, and were characterized by a variety of analyses. According to bifunctional mechanism, it was concluded that good alloy formation with $2^{nd}$ metal (e.g., Ru) as well as the metallic state and optimum portion of Ru element in the anode catalyst contribute to an enhanced catalytic activity for methanol electrooxidation. In addition, we found that the modified electronic properties of platinum in Pt alloy electrodes as well as the surface and bulk structure of Pt alloys with a proper composition could be attributed to a higher catalytic activity for methanol electooxdation. Proton conducting contribution of nanosized electrocatalysts should also be considered to be excellent in methanol electrooxidation (Spillover effect). Finally, we confirmed the ensemble effect, which combined all above effects, in Pt-based nanocatalsyts especially, such as PtRuRhNi and $PtRuWO_{3}$, contribute to an enhanced catalytic activity.

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The Effect of Proton Conductivity of SPEEK Composite Membrane with Organic Compounds for DMFC

  • You, S.K.;Kim, H.J.;Shin, H.S.;Kim, J.S.;Choi, W.K.;Park, S.G.
    • Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.167-172
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    • 2009
  • Direct methanol fuel cells(DMFCs) are receiving significant attention in the portable power source and electric vehicular transportation because of its high energy efficiency as liquid fuel, low cost, and no requirement of fuel reforming process. In this study, we synthesized the Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) to evaluate the possibility of use as a proton exchange membrane for DMFC. And poly(vinylidienedifluoride) (PVDF) was used to increase proton conductivity in SPEEK and simultaneously to prevent methanol transport through the cross linked membrane. Furthermore, in order to improve the electrical composite properties for DMFC applications.

Polymer Materials for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells: Sulfonated Poly(ether sulfone)s for Fuel Cell Membranes

  • Kim, H.J.;Lee, S.Y.;Cho, E.;Ha, H.Y.;Oh, I.H.;Lim, T.H.
    • Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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    • 2006.10a
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    • pp.185-185
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    • 2006
  • The performances of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) and direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) with sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) membrane are reported. Pt/C was coated on the membrane directly to fabricate a MEA for PEMFC operation. A single cell test was carried out using $H_2/air$ gases as fuel and oxidant. A current density of $730\;mA/cm^2$ at 0.60 V was obtained at $70^{\circ}C$. Pt-Ru (anode) and Pt (cathode) were coated on the membrane for DMFC operations. It produced $83\;mW/cm^2$ of maximum power density. The sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) membrane was also used for DFAFC operation under several different conditions. It showed good cell performances for several different kinds of polymer electrolyte fuel cell applications.

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Design and Analysis of a Novel Methanol SOFC Combined System for Marine Applications Toward Future Green Shipping Goals

  • Duong Phan Anh;Ryu Bo Rim;Hokeun Kang
    • Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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    • v.47 no.2
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    • pp.106-119
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    • 2023
  • Due to global decarbonization movement and tightening of maritime emissions restrictions, the shipping industry is going to switch to alternative fuels. Among candidates of alternative fuel, methanol is promising for decreasing SOx and CO2 emissions, resulting in minimum climate change and meeting the goal of green shipping. In this study, a novel combined system of direct methanol solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), gas turbine (GT), and organic Rankine cycle (ORC) targeted for marine vessels was proposed. The SOFC is the main power generator of the system, whereas the GT and PEMFC could recover waste heat from the SOFC to generate useful power and increase waste heat utilizing efficiency of the system. Thermodynamics model of the combined system and each component were established and analyzed. Energy and exergy efficiencies of subsystems and the entire system were estimated with participation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The energy and exergy efficiencies of the overall multigeneration system were estimated to be 76.2% and 30.3%, respectively. The combination of GT and PEMFC increased the energy efficiency by 18.91% compared to the SOFC stand-alone system. By changing the methanol distribution ratio from 0.05 to 0.4, energy and exergy efficiencies decreased by 15.49% and 5.41%, respectively. During the starting up and maneuvering period of vessels, a quick response from the power supply system and propulsion plant is necessary. Utilization of PEMFC coupled with SOFC has remarkable meaning and benefits.

An investigation on anode electrocatalysts using grafting method for improvement of DMFC performances (Grafting 방법을 이용한 직접메탄올연료전지 애노드 촉매의 성능향상에 관한 연구)

  • Park, Jung-Bae;Han, Kook-Il;Kim, Ha-Suck
    • 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2006.11a
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    • pp.413-416
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    • 2006
  • PtRu catalyst is most widely used as anode catalyst for a direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC). To promote the efficiency of the catalysts, it Is important to increase the triple phase boundary. In this study, we have tried to increase the triple phase boundaries in preparing electrocatalysts of the fuel cells, based on the process of grafting a proton-conducting agent onto the catalyst This grafted proton-conducting agent can act as an ionomer like Nafion, currently widely used ionomer. First, we have prepared the 80wt% PtRu/Ketjen Black electrocatalyst by an improved colloidal method. And, we have grafted methylsulfonate groups $(-CH_2SO_3H)$ into the catalyst as proton-conducting agents. As results of cyclic voltammety and single cell test of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), we can conclude that the activity of the grafted electrocatalysts is superior to that of conventional ones, in performance of DMFCs. For our further study, we will investigate the optimum ratio of catalyst/grafted proton conduct Ing agent with maximum performance of a DMFC.

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A study on the Thermopneumatic Actuator with Phase Change for Micro Pump (상변화를 이용한 열공압형 마이크로 펌프용 액츄에이터 성능에 관한 연구)

  • Park, S.;Hwang, J.Y.;Lee, S.;Kang, K.;Kang, H.;Jang, J.;Lee, H.;Kang, S.
    • 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2006.11a
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    • pp.425-428
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    • 2006
  • Recently, Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) for portable devices has been received much attention because DMFC has a possibility of higher energy density than electrical batteries and smaller size than other fuel cells. This paper presents the fabrication and test of a thermopneumatic microactuator with a phase change for DMFC. A microactuator consists of an inlet an outlet a chamber, a heater and a sensor of resistance temperature detector(RTD). The micoractuator is fabricated by the spin-coating process, the lithograph process, the deep RIE process and so on. The total size of microactuator is $20{\times}20{\times}0.53mm^3$. When the current is applied, the heater heats liquid in chamber. As a result the liquid vaporizes. The response of temperature in the chamber was measured using thermocouple The changed temperature is $3^{\circ}C$ for 5 sec at 0.032W.

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