What is used as a catalyst in direct methanol fuel cell?

In DMFCs, bimetallic PtRu is the most widely used catalytic material because of its high electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation at the anode. Several PtRu-metal groups have been considered as potential anode catalysts for DMFCs, including rhodium (Rh), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co).

What is the most common catalyst for fuel cells?

hydrogen
The most common fuel is hydrogen. The anode catalyst, usually fine platinum powder, breaks down the fuel into electrons and ions. The cathode catalyst, often nickel, converts ions into waste chemicals, with water being the most common type of waste.

What is the catalyst in a hydrogen fuel cell?

platinum catalyst
Catalyst Layers On the anode side, the platinum catalyst enables hydrogen molecules to be split into protons and electrons. On the cathode side, the platinum catalyst enables oxygen reduction by reacting with the protons generated by the anode, producing water.

How are catalyst inks used in fuel cells?

Determining the optimal catalyst ink formula for manufacturing membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is important to optimizing their performance. The proper catalyst inks maintain the optimal balance of mass and ion transport in the catalyst layers.

How is ethanol used in a fuel cell?

By comparing the performance of fuel cells operating on some low molecular weight alcohols, it resulted that ethanol may replace methanol in a direct alcohol fuel cell. To improve the performance of a direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC), it is of great importance to develop anode catalysts for ethanol electro-oxidation more active than platinum alone.

Which is the correct formula for catalyst ink?

The proper catalyst inks maintain the optimal balance of mass and ion transport in the catalyst layers. Catalyst inks are composed mainly of a carrier, Nafion solution, and a Pt/C catalyst. We investigated the optimal catalyst ink formula by varying these components during fabrication of MEAs by 20-kHz ultrasonic spraying.

Why does DEFC use ethanol instead of methanol?

They have been used as a model to investigate a range of fuel cell concepts including the use of PEM. DEFC uses Ethanol in the fuel cell instead of the more toxic methanol. Ethanol is an attractive alternative to methanol because it comes with a supply chain that’s already in place.