THE DEGREE AND EFFECT OF METHANOL CROSSOVER IN THE DIRECT METHANOL FUEL-CELL

A simple model is presented to describe the permeation of methanol fro m the anode to the cathode in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). Measur ed permeation rates of water and methanol through Nafion(R) 117 under varied pressure differentials across the membrane are used to determin e key parameters in the model. This model is able to explain the effec t of oxygen pressure at the cathode and methanol concentration at the anode on the measured cell voltage-current response of the DMFC. (C) 1 998 Elsevier Science S.A.