Abstract
The effect of methanol feed concentration on the membrane–electrode interface was investigated in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). The membrane–electrode interfacial resistance in direct methanol fuel cellls (DMFCs) has a strong dependence on methanol concentration with increasing methanol concentration leading to higher interfacial resistances for methanol concentrations up to 5.0 M for two distinctly different polymer systems: Nafion (1100 equivalent weight) and a sulfonated poly(arylene ether)sulfone (BPSH-30). Initial interfacial resistances are correlated with resistance increases and performance losses during fuel cell life tests. The results from this study agree with our previous studies on the membrane–electrode interface and suggest that high methanol concentrations can be used to probe interfacial failure in an accelerated aging capacity. Conductivity of Nafion has a high dependence on methanol concentration, while conductivity of BPSH-30 is almost independent of methanol concentration.
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