Pervaporation membranes in direct methanol fuel cells

Bryan S. Pivovar; Yuxin Wang; Edward L Cussler Jr

doi:10.1016/S0376-7388(98)00264-6

Pervaporation membranes in direct methanol fuel cells

Bryan S. Pivovar, Yuxin Wang, Edward L Cussler Jr

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

388 Scopus citations

Abstract

The membranes in direct methanol fuel cells must both conduct protons and serve as a barrier for methanol. Nafion, the most common fuel cell membrane, is an excellent conductor but a poor barrier. Polyvinyl alcohol pervaporation membranes are good methanol barriers but poor conductors. These and most other pervaporation membranes offer no significant advantages over Nafion in methanol fuel cell applications. However, polybenzimidazole membranes have demonstrated characteristics that suggest up to a 15-fold improvement in direct methanol fuel cells. This improvement may be due to an alternate form of proton conduction in which protons travel via a Grotthus or 'hopping' mechanism.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	155-162
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Membrane Science
Volume	154
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0376-7388(98)00264-6
State	Published - Mar 17 1999

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was primarily supported by the Department of Defense, grant DAAH04-95-0094. Other support came from the National Science Foundation, grants CTS95-28755 and CTS96-27361.

Keywords

Barrier membranes
Batteries
Fuel cells
Solubility and partioning

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10.1016/S0376-7388(98)00264-6

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title = "Pervaporation membranes in direct methanol fuel cells",

abstract = "The membranes in direct methanol fuel cells must both conduct protons and serve as a barrier for methanol. Nafion, the most common fuel cell membrane, is an excellent conductor but a poor barrier. Polyvinyl alcohol pervaporation membranes are good methanol barriers but poor conductors. These and most other pervaporation membranes offer no significant advantages over Nafion in methanol fuel cell applications. However, polybenzimidazole membranes have demonstrated characteristics that suggest up to a 15-fold improvement in direct methanol fuel cells. This improvement may be due to an alternate form of proton conduction in which protons travel via a Grotthus or 'hopping' mechanism.",

keywords = "Barrier membranes, Batteries, Fuel cells, Solubility and partioning",

author = "Pivovar, {Bryan S.} and Yuxin Wang and {Cussler Jr}, {Edward L}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was primarily supported by the Department of Defense, grant DAAH04-95-0094. Other support came from the National Science Foundation, grants CTS95-28755 and CTS96-27361.",

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AU - Pivovar, Bryan S.

AU - Wang, Yuxin

AU - Cussler Jr, Edward L

N1 - Funding Information: This work was primarily supported by the Department of Defense, grant DAAH04-95-0094. Other support came from the National Science Foundation, grants CTS95-28755 and CTS96-27361.

PY - 1999/3/17

Y1 - 1999/3/17

N2 - The membranes in direct methanol fuel cells must both conduct protons and serve as a barrier for methanol. Nafion, the most common fuel cell membrane, is an excellent conductor but a poor barrier. Polyvinyl alcohol pervaporation membranes are good methanol barriers but poor conductors. These and most other pervaporation membranes offer no significant advantages over Nafion in methanol fuel cell applications. However, polybenzimidazole membranes have demonstrated characteristics that suggest up to a 15-fold improvement in direct methanol fuel cells. This improvement may be due to an alternate form of proton conduction in which protons travel via a Grotthus or 'hopping' mechanism.

AB - The membranes in direct methanol fuel cells must both conduct protons and serve as a barrier for methanol. Nafion, the most common fuel cell membrane, is an excellent conductor but a poor barrier. Polyvinyl alcohol pervaporation membranes are good methanol barriers but poor conductors. These and most other pervaporation membranes offer no significant advantages over Nafion in methanol fuel cell applications. However, polybenzimidazole membranes have demonstrated characteristics that suggest up to a 15-fold improvement in direct methanol fuel cells. This improvement may be due to an alternate form of proton conduction in which protons travel via a Grotthus or 'hopping' mechanism.

KW - Barrier membranes

KW - Batteries

KW - Fuel cells

KW - Solubility and partioning

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Pervaporation membranes in direct methanol fuel cells

Abstract

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