Overview on Vapor Feed Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Direct methanol fuel cell is the best candidate in generating high energy density and compatible as power source for small mobile device. DMFC operate in two basic manners which are active and passive where methanol can be fed in liquid or vapor phase. Passive DMFC is simpler than active DMFC since it operates without using any external devices to deliver methanol and air to the fuel cell. Due to methanol crossover problem faced by liquid feed DMFC operated at high methanol concentration, vapor feed DMFC is an alternative way to solve this problem. Vapor feed DMFC proposed by some groups since it can increase the fuel cell performance and reliable for high methanol concentration. Methanol vapor delivered to the anode by heating the liquid methanol or using a pervaporation membrane. However, there are challenges to overcome such as methanol crossover and water management. Mass transfer resistance should be increased to reduce the methanol crossover and Water management also needed in order to block the water removal from the cathode and thus help to push more water backward from the cathode to the anode in vapor feed DMFC operation to achieve high performance. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Asia-Pacific Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering Society