Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.1623
Electrode configurations study for alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells
Michaela Roschger
; Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/C, 8010 Graz, Austria
Sigrid Wolf
; Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/C, 8010 Graz, Austria
Andreas Billiani
; Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/C, 8010 Graz, Austria
Selestina Gorgieva
; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Boštjan Genorio
; Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Viktor Hacker
; Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/C, 8010 Graz, Austria
Abstract
The direct electrochemical conversion of ethanol, a sustainable fuel, is an alternative sustainable technology of the future. In this study, membrane electrode assemblies with different electrode configurations for an alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell were fabricated and tested in a fuel cell device. The configurations include a catalyst-coated substrate (CCS), a catalyst-coated membrane (CCM), and a mixture of these two fabrication options. Two different anion exchange membranes were used to perform a comprehensive analysis. The fabricated CCSs and CCMs were characterized with single cell measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the swelling behavior of the membranes in alkaline solution was investigated in order to obtain information for CCM production. The results of the experimental electrochemical tests show that the CCS approach provides higher power densities (42.4 mW cm-2) than the others, regardless of the membrane type.
Keywords
Membrane electrode assembly; alkaline swelling; single cell tests; anion exchange membrane
Hrčak ID:
307197
URI
Publication date:
11.8.2023.
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