Characterization of direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) fabricated with porous SiC ceramic membrane

摘要

Direct ethanol-proton exchange membrane fuel cells have been fabricated with ceramic membranes. A porous silicon carbide (SiC) membrane having approximately 30% has been applied for application in a direct ethanol proton exchange membrane (DE-PEM) fuel cell. A horizontal type cell having Pt (40 vol.%)/C catalyst layer on both side of the ceramic membrane was used for the demonstration test. The ethanol oxidation based-fuel cell stack showed very high voltage (1.289V) and measurable current level (1.10A) even though at room temperature. Even if, the porous ceramic membrane was utilized for the direct ethanol-proton exchange membrane fuel cell, very low permeability of the ceramic membrane for ethanol as compared to the conventional polymer electrolyte would occur. It was inferred the porous ceramic membrane, the current material rarely exhibit alcohol cross-over to the cathodic electrode greatly decreasing cell efficiency.