Investigation of ruthenium dissolution in advanced membrane electrode assemblies for direct methanol based fuel cell stacks

T. I. Valdez, S. Firdosy, B. E. Koel, S. R. Narayanan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mechanism of ruthenium dissolution in Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) Membrane-Electrode-Assemblies (MEAs) was investigated by preparing various MEAs and subjecting them to continuous operation for a period of 250 hours. All of the MEAs exhibited voltage decay. The voltage decay for MEAs operating at 40 °C, 0.5 M methanol was in the range of 6 to 48 mV at an applied current of 50-mA/cm2 and 67 to 150 mV at an applied current of 100-mA/cm 2. The technique of anode polarization was used to determine the source of degradation and revealed that anode performance in these MEAs was constant and that the cathode was more sensitive to duration operation. EDAX analysis was performed on each cell to determine if ruthenium had dissolved from the anode and precipitated onto the cathode, no ruthenium was found on the MEA. This paper discusses stack properties that can promote ruthenium dissolution in DMFC MEAs. copyright The Electrochemical Society.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells V, In Honor of Supramaniam Srinivasan
PublisherElectrochemical Society Inc.
Pages293-303
Number of pages11
Edition6
ISBN (Electronic)1566774969
ISBN (Print)1566774969, 9781566774963
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes
Event208th Meeting of the Electrochemical Society - Los Angeles, CA, United States
Duration: Oct 16 2005Oct 21 2005

Publication series

NameECS Transactions
Number6
Volume1
ISSN (Print)1938-5862
ISSN (Electronic)1938-6737

Other

Other208th Meeting of the Electrochemical Society
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLos Angeles, CA
Period10/16/0510/21/05

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Investigation of ruthenium dissolution in advanced membrane electrode assemblies for direct methanol based fuel cell stacks'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this