Direct oxidation fuel cells with improved cathode gas diffusion media for low air stoichiometry operation
AssigneesMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., The Penn State Research Foundation
InventorsGuoqiang Lu, Chao-Yang Wang, Takashi Akiyama
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Abstract
A cathode for use in a direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC) comprises a gas diffusion medium (GDM) including a backing layer and a microporous layer comprising a fluoropolymer and an electrically conductive material, wherein loading of the fluoropolymer in the microporous layer is in the range from about 10 to about 60 wt. %. In use, a concentrated solution of a liquid fuel is supplied to an anode and an oxidant to the cathode of the fuel cell, and the fuel cell may be operated at a low oxidant stoichiometry ξc not greater than about 2.5.
Claims19
A cathode electrode for use in a direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC), said cathode comprising a gas diffusion medium (GDM) including a backing layer and a microporous layer, said microporous layer comprising a fluoropolymer and an electrically conductive material, wherein:
- loading of said fluoropolymer in said microporous layer is in the range from about 10 to about 60 wt. %.
A method of operating a direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC) system, comprising steps of:
- (a) providing at least one fuel cell assembly including a cathode and an anode with an electrolyte positioned therebetween, said cathode comprising a gas diffusion medium (GDM) including a backing layer and a microporous layer, said microporous layer comprising an electrically conductive material and a fluoropolymer, loading of said fluoropolymer in said microporous layer being in the range from about 10 to about 60 wt. %;
- b) supplying a concentrated solution of a liquid fuel to said anode and an oxidant to said cathode;
- and
- c) operating said at least one fuel cell assembly at a low oxidant stoichiometry ξc not greater than about 4.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.