Feasibility of fuel cell using dimethyl ether fuel

The first feasibility study on fuel cell systems that use dimethyl ether (DME) fuel is performed and a direct DME fuel cell of 6 x6 cm(2) is demonstrated for the first time using a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Performance of the cell was almost equal to that of a direct methanol fuel cell by introducing 1.5 times more steam to DIME than to methanol. As the technologies associated with producing DME from low-quality coal have been improved, the direct DME fuel cell may be more attractive than the direct methanol fuel cell in the future due to the low toxicity and high energy density of the direct DME fuel cell.