Direct methanol fuel cells for vehicular applications

Shukla, AK and Ravikumar, MK and Gandhi, KS (1998) Direct methanol fuel cells for vehicular applications. In: Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, 2 (2). pp. 117-122.

PDF Direct_methanol-164.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (228kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Dramatic technological advances for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell have focused attention on this technology for motor vehicles. The fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have the potential to compete with the petroleum fueled internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) in cost and performance while e€ectively addressing air quality, energy insecurity, and global warming concerns. Methanol being a liquid can be easily transported and can be supplied from the existing network of oil company distribution sites. Recently, combining improved catalysts with fuel cell engineering, it has been possible to overcome some of the diffculties that have frustrated previous research and development efforts in realizing a commercially viable direct methanol fuel cell. Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) with power densities between 0.2 and $0.4 W/cm^2$ at operational temperatures in the range 95-130 °C have been developed. These power densities are suffcient to suggest that stack construction is well worth while. This paper reviews recent advances and technical challenges in the field of DMFCs.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry
Publisher:	Springer
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Springer.
Keywords:	Methanol;Fuel cell;Vehicle;Nafion;Direct methanol fuel cell
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Solid State & Structural Chemistry Unit Division of Mechanical Sciences > Chemical Engineering
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2007
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:34
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/9479

Actions (login required)

View Item