A Trilaminar-Catalytic Layered MEA Structure for a Passive Micro-Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with a novel trilaminar-catalytic layered structure was designed and fabricated for a micro-direct methanol fuel cell (mu-DMFC). The trilaminar-catalytic layer comprises three porous layers. The medial layer has a lower porosity than the inner and outer layers. The simulation results predicted a lower water content and a higher oxygen concentration in the trilaminar-catalytic layer. The novel trilaminar-catalytic layer enhanced the back diffusion of water from the cathode to the anode, which reduces methanol crossover and improves oxygen mass transportation. The electrochemical results of the half-cell test indicate that the novel MEA has a greatly increased cathode polarization and a slightly increased anode polarization. Thus, this novel mu-DMFC structure has a higher power density and a longer discharging time, and hence may be used in portable systems.

Automated summary

The novel trilaminar-catalytic layer structure enhances oxygen transport while preventing methanol crossover in the mu-DMFC, resulting in increased power density and longer discharging time.