Performance improvement of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) was achieved via an anodic treatment technique. Previously, anodic treatment was performed using sulfuric acid as acidic media, but various organic acids including formic, acetic, oxalic, and citric acids were employed in this study to avoid the use of toxic sulfuric acid. By replacing sulfuric acid to organic acids, a potential damage to catalyst layers and other components such as polymer electrolyte membrane and bipolar plates are expected to be minimized. The anodic treatment was performed by applying 0.7 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) at the anode of DMFCs flowing the organic acid solutions for 30min. After the anodic treatment, peak power densities of DMFCs were increased by +7, +32, +23, and .2.6% when formic, acetic, oxalic, and citric acid solutions were employed, respectively. The enhanced catalytic activity of the DMFCs in the acetic and oxalic acid solutions was confirmed by analyzing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data.

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Methanol Electro-oxidation Electrocatalyst Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy PtRu

Arico AS, Srinivasan S, Antonucci V, Fuel Cells., 1, 133 (2001)
Watanabe M, Motoo S, J. Electroanal. Chem., 60, 267 (1975)
Markovic NM, Gasteiger HA, Ross PN, Jiang XD, Villegas I, Weaver MJ, Electrochim. Acta, 40(1), 91 (1995)
Chrzanowski W, Wieckowski A, Langmuir, 14(8), 1967 (1998)
Jeon MK, Won JY, Lee KR, Woo SI, Electrochem. Commun., 9, 2163 (2007)
Lee KR, Jeon MK, Woo SI, Appl. Catal. B: Environ., 91(1-2), 428 (2009)
Jeon MK, Lee KR, Daimon H, Nakahara A, Woo SI, Catal. Today, 132(1-4), 123 (2008)
Jeon MK, Lee KR, Woo SI, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 26(4), 1028 (2009)
Kang DK, Noh CS, Park ST, Sohn JM, Kim SK, Park YK, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 27(3), 802 (2010)
Cooper JS, McGinn PJ, J. Power Sources, 163(1), 330 (2006)
Umeda M, Ojima H, Mohamedi M, Uchida I, J. Power Sources, 136(1), 10 (2004)
Goetz M, Wendt H, J. Appl. Electrochem., 31(7), 811 (2001)
Roth C, Goetz M, Fuess H, J. Appl. Electrochem., 31(7), 793 (2001)
Choi JH, Park KW, Kwon BK, Sung YE, J. Electrochem. Soc., 150(7), A973 (2003)
Wang ZB, Yin GP, Shi PF, Sun YC, Electrochem. Solid State Lett., 9(1), A13 (2006)
Liu JY, Cao JY, Huang QH, Li XW, Zou ZQ, Yang H, J. Power Sources, 175(1), 159 (2008)
Choi WC, Kim JD, Woo SI, Catal. Today., 74, 1762 (2002)
Lu Q, Yang B, Zhuang L, Lu J, J. Phys. Chem. B., 109, 1715
Jeon MK, Won JY, Woo SI, Electrochem. Solid State Lett., 10(1), B23 (2007)
Rolison DR, Hagans PL, Swider KE, Long JW, Langmuir, 15(3), 774 (1999)
Long JW, Stroud RM, Swider-Lyons KE, Rolison DR, J. Phys. Chem. B, 104(42), 9772 (2000)
Gavrilov AN, Savinova ER, Simonov PA, Zaikovskii VI, Cherepanova SV, Tsirlina GA, Parmon VN, Phys. Chem. Chem.Phys., 9, 5476 (2007)
Lasch K, Jorissen L, Friedrich KA, Garche J, J. Solid State Electrochem., 7, 619 (2003)
Petrii OA, J. Solid State Electrochem., 12, 609 (2008)
Rose A, Crabb EM, Qian YD, Ravikumar MK, Wells PP, Wiltshire RJK, Yao J, Bilsborrow R, Mosselmans F, Russell AE, Electrochim. Acta, 52(18), 5556 (2007)
Spendelow JS, Babu PK, Wieckowski A, Curr. Opin. Solid State Mater. Sci., 9, 37 (2005)
Jeon MK, Won JY, Oh KS, Lee KR, Woo SI, Electrochim. Acta, 53(2), 447 (2007)
Mueller JT, Urban PM, J. Power Sources, 75(1), 139 (1998)
Yu XW, Pickup PG, J. Power Sources, 182(1), 124 (2008)