Polyvinyl alcohol/fumed silica/KOH electrolytes for direct methanol alkaline uel cells

摘要

Polyvinyl alcohol/fumed silica (PVA/FS) nano-composites were prepared through a solution casting method. The methanol permeability in the resulting composites decreased with increasing FS concentrations. The ionic conductivity of the KOH-doped PVA composites increased with increasing FS concentrations and temperature. A direct methanol alkaline fuel cell (DMAFC) composed of a PVA/FS/KOH electrolyte was assembled and systematically examined under various sets of operating conditions.