Development of a high-performance fuel cell with a novel electrode structure

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Gas components and their pressures in the anode gas layer formed in the noble electrode structure of a DMFC was analyzed by using in-situ mass spectroscopy with a capillary probe. Reaction products at the electrode and their production rates as well as their mass transfer rates crossing the membrane were investigated based on the measurements. It was revealed that the vapor pressure of methanol in the gas layer corresponds to the methanol concentration used in a liquid feed DMFC from the equilibrium calculation. Production rate of methyl-formate, as a main component of the intermediate-product, was proportional to the second power to the ratio of methanol vapor pressure/water vapor pressure in the gas layer. However, the formation of the intermediate products could be neglected in the energy conversion efficiency because of the too small production rates comparing with that of CO_2. The power out put was increased by increasing the water flux from the cathode by putting a hydrophobic porous membrane out side the cathode by keeping an optimum distance from the cathode surface.