Development of a Novel Palladium Membrane-based Alkaline Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Walker, Brian Thomas

Student Work

Development of a Novel Palladium Membrane-based Alkaline Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Public

In this project, the overall goal was to design a high temperature DMFC based on alkaline electrolyte that utilizes methanol feeds directly, using a Pd-membrane that serves both as the anode and as a membrane that precludes methanol crossover and CO2 reaction with the alkaline electrolyte. The chief accomplishment in this work was to establish an effective method of fabrication of a dense Pd/Ag membrane on the SiC ceramic support; the crux of this fuel cell. When operating the fuel cell using pure H2 feed instead of methanol, the cell generated a voltage thus showing promising signs that the achieved performance could be improved upon. The next step is to fine-tune the fabrication procedure using the recommendations made in this report and then test the fuel cell using a methanol feed.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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