OPTIMIZATION OF OPERATING PARAMETERS OF A DIRECT METHANOL FUEL-CELL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF CATALYST-ELECTROLYTE INTERFACE

A physico-chemical investigation of catalyst-Nafion(R) electrolyte int erface of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), based on a Pt-Ru/C anode catalyst, was carried out by XRD, SEM-EDAX and TEM. No interaction be tween catalyst and electrolyte was detected and no significant interco nnected network of Nafion micelles inside the composite catalyst layer was observed. The influence of some operating parameters on the perfo rmance of the DMFC was investigated. Optimal conditions were 2 M metha nol, 5 atm cathode pressure and 2-3 atm anode pressure. Power densitie s of 110 and 160 mW cm(-2) were obtained for operation with air and ox ygen, respectively, at temperatures of 95-100 degrees C and with 1 mg cm(-2) Pt loading. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.