(Digital Presentation) Power-Generation and Mass-Transport Characteristics of Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell Using Pore-Designed Anode Electrode

Abstract

Controlling of mass transport in the anode catalyst layer has become one of the major challenges in Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells (DFAFCs) owing to the poor formic acid transport and crossover. This study is aim to introduce the microfiber-pores designed anode catalyst layers by mean to improve the mass transport limitation and eventually improving the performance of DFAFCs. Polystyrene fibers (PSFs) were fabricated with different diameter by electrospinning prior to control their length by ultrasonic homogenization. Different amount of PSF as a pore forming agent were then added to the catalyst ink before catalyst coated membrane (CCM) were made by spraying the catalyst ink on the membrane. The CCM were then soaked in ethyl acetate solution to remove the PSF in order to improve the porous structure of anode catalyst layer. Different diameter and amount of PSFs exhibited different pore properties of the catalyst layer and its effect on the mass transport and the performance of DFAFC were then investigated. From the results, the microfiber-pores designed anode catalyst layers showed better performance remarkably at the higher current density region as compared to the conventional anode catalyst layer. Moreover, it was also found that there were optimum diameter and amount of PSF used for the highest performance of DFAFC. This could be attributed to the existence of the microfiber-pores have provide larger active catalyst region which accelerate the fuel transport and the CO2 emission in anode catalyst layer. Thus, these results indicate that the introduction of the microfiber-pores on the anode catalyst layer is a promising approach in order to improve the mass transport resistance, leading to enhance the DFAFCs performance.