Abstract
This report discusses the results of an independent study on direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The study’s objective was to establish a performance baseline using a TKK 57.7% platinum catalyst on the cathode and a TKK 58% platinum–ruthenium catalyst on the anode. Experimental results showed that increasing the operating temperature by 20°C did not improve performance, which was contrary to expectations. In one study, airflow was increased from 0.2 L/min to 0.3 L/min, which resulted in a small improvement in power density. However, increasing the methanol concentration from 1 mol/L to 2 mol/L showed no notable improvement in performance, indicating possible issues within the catalyst layer. As a result, the electrode preparation procedure was adjusted to use less aggressive mixing and an additional heat treatment step. This additional treatment is intended to promote more uniform ionomer dispersion across the electrodes. Overall, the DMFC did not perform as expected and requires further testing using MEAs fabricated with the adjusted procedure to establish a reliable baseline for comparison.
Document Type
Final Report
Class Name
Mechanical Engineering and Material Sciences Independent Study
Language
English (en)
Date of Submission
5-4-2026
Recommended Citation
Gammon, Kaden T., "Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Study" (2026). Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study. 323.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mems500/323