A quasi-direct methanol fuel cell system based on blend polymer membrane electrolytes

On the basis of blend polymer electrolytes of polybenzimidazole and sulfonated polysulfone, a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell was developed with an operational temperature up to 200degrees C. Due to the high operational temperature, the fuel cell can tolerate 1.0-3.0 vol % CO in the fuel, compared to less than 100 ppm CO for the Nafion-based technology at 80degrees C.

The high CO tolerance makes it possible to use the reformed hydrogen directly from a simple methanol reformer without further CO removal. That both the fuel cell and the methanol reformer operate at temperatures around 200degrees C opens the possibility for an integrated system. The resulting system is expected to exhibit high power density and simple construction as well as efficient capital and operational cost.