A LIQUID-FEED SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTE DIRECT METHANOL FUEL-CELL OPERATING AT NEAR-AMBIENT CONDITIONS

Results on the performance of a 25 cm(2) liquid-feed solid polymer ele ctrolyte direct methanol fuel cell (SPE-DMFC), operating under near-am bient conditions, are reported. The fuel cell can sustain a load curre nt density of 100 mA cm(-2) with an output voltage of c. 450 mV at 90 degrees C with 2 M aqueous methanol and air-fed cathode at near-ambien t pressures with a catalyst loading of 5 mg cm(-2) of Pt. Preliminary data on the performance of a liquid-feed SPE-DMFC stack comprising two 25 cm(2) cells are also reported. These data are sufficient to sugges t that further developmental work on liquid-feed SPE-DMFCs operating u nder near-ambient conditions (0 barg O-2 at 90 degrees C) is well wort hwhile. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.