Performance evaluation of the incorporation of different wire meshes in between perforated current collectors and membrane electrode assembly on the Passive Direct methanol fuel cell

Passive Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) are more suitable for charging small capacity electronic devices. In passive DMFC, the fuel and oxidant are supplied by diffusion and natural convection process on the anode and cathode sides respectively. Current collectors (CC) play a vital importance in fuel cell performance. This paper presents the combined impact of perforated and wire mesh current collectors (WMCC) on passive DMFC performance. Three types of open ratios of perforated current collectors (PCC), such as 45.40%, 55.40% and 63.40% and two types of wire mesh current collectors with open ratios of 38.70% and 45.40% were chosen for the experimental work. A combination of Taguchi-L9 rule is considered. A combination of three PCC and two WMCC on both anode and cathode was used. Methanol concentration was varied from 1 mol.L-1-5 mol.L-1 for nine combinations of PCC and WMCC. From the experimental results, it is noticed that the combination of PCC and WMCC with an open ratio of 55.40% and 38.70% incorporated passive DMFC produced peak power density at 5 mol.L-1 of methanol concentration. The passive DMFC performance was evaluated in terms of maximum power density and maximum current density. The combined current collectors of PCC and WMCC open ratios of 55.40% + 38.70% have more stable voltage than single PCC of open ratio 63.40% at 4 mol.L-1 of methanol concentration. (C) 2021 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates the combined impact of perforated and wire mesh current collectors on the performance of passive direct methanol fuel cells, finding that specific combinations of current collectors with certain open ratios can improve peak power density under certain conditions. Additionally, the stability of combined current collectors is emphasized.