CH E485 Lecture 3: 3- Fuel Cell Types

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Chemical Engineering
• Course: CH E485
• Professor: Tom H. Etsell

Document Summary

Alloying pt with ru, fe, co + mo can lower co poisoning, especially pt-ru. Highest power density of all fuel cell types (300 - 1000mw/cm2) The pem cell has been successfully run on methanol. Anode - ch3oh + h2o --> co2 + 6h+ + 6e. Cathode - 3/2o2 + 6h+ + 6e --> 3h2o. Cell rxn - ch3oh +3/2o2 --> co2 + 2h2o. The rxn involving ch3oh is complex therefore 30-100mw/cm2. Co forms as intermediate therefore catalyst has to be even more co tolerant. Rt creates adsorption sites capable of forming ohadsorbed that react with co --> co2. Obviously need ch3oh - h2o mixtures supplied to anode that produce co2. All 3 diffuse through the electrolyte to the cathode and direct rxn between methanol and oxygen occurs known as. The carbon at the cathode is ptfe (starting point for making nafion); all h in pe replaced by f. Runs at 90c (can be in the range of 60-250c)