Abstract
Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) uses methanol as fuel, mainly because it has high energy conversion efficiency, low pollution, and it can operate at low temperature. Compared to proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) using hydrogen gas as the anode fuel, DMFC has some advantages such as the safety of fuel storage, operation at room temperature, and so on. Therefore, DMFCs have potential applications for portable electronics. In this study, we use Si substrate, coated with Ni/Al/Ti film as carbon nanotube growth catalyst / electron transfer / adhesion layer. Then use the Thermal CVD growth carbon nanotubes to increase the surface area. After the growth of carbon tubes we use hydrophilic treatment, then use "Open-Loop Flux Chemical Reduction System" our lab design for Pt catalytic reduction. However, As the solution volume and temperature in the OLFCRS change with the solution evaporation/condensation process, the mechanism for enhancing the boiling point will be different from the traditional reflux system, so it is imperative to optimize the reaction temperature of Pt reduction in the OLFCRS. The results showed a lower reduction temperature (130℃) has better performance. Then we use the same method to find the best temperature reduction parameter of pure Ru (160℃). Finally we design PtRu reduction. Currently the best anode catalyst of the process is Ru (160℃)→Pt (130℃)→Pt: Ru = 0.5:1 (160℃) three steps. The results of CO poisoning enhance the inhibition 55% (Ipm/Ipco= 0.83→1.29) with pure Pt, and improve the quality of mass activity 46% (506→739A/g) with pure Pt. The result is double with the recent literature of chemical reduction. We will continue to research PtRu binary alloy catalyst preparation. Then practical application of the laboratory micro direct methanol fuel cell assembly of the whole cells.