Alcohol Not For Drinking: Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Tony Tong November 23, 2004 CH 407H: The Science and Technology of Batteries Oregon State University Tony Tong November 23, 2004 CH 407H: The Science and Technology of Batteries Oregon State University

What are DMFC’s?  Uses methanol, a cheap and safe fuel  No reformer needed  Operable at room temperatures  DTI Energy, Inc. holds exclusive worldwide licensing rights  Uses methanol, a cheap and safe fuel  No reformer needed  Operable at room temperatures  DTI Energy, Inc. holds exclusive worldwide licensing rights

How DMFC’s work Source: DTI Energy, Inc.

Applications of DMFC’s  Can be adapted to power almost anything  Transportation  Residential power  Industrial power  Landfills/wastewater  Mobile electronics in near future  Work underway to miniaturize  Will initially supplement batteries  Cartridges will be sold to replenish fuel ($2-3?)  Laptops: 5 hrs (high-drain) now, 40 hr DMFC in development  Can be adapted to power almost anything  Transportation  Residential power  Industrial power  Landfills/wastewater  Mobile electronics in near future  Work underway to miniaturize  Will initially supplement batteries  Cartridges will be sold to replenish fuel ($2-3?)  Laptops: 5 hrs (high-drain) now, 40 hr DMFC in development

Advantages & Benefits  Longer usage vs. batteries  Lightweight / scalable  No need to recharge  Cleaner than IC engines  Liquid fuel can be pumped from gas stations  Longer usage vs. batteries  Lightweight / scalable  No need to recharge  Cleaner than IC engines  Liquid fuel can be pumped from gas stations Source: Toshiba

Disadvantages & Problems  High cost  Platinum/ruthenium catalyst  Low current  Low power density  “Methanol crossover”  Water byproduct  Damage to electronics  Damage to environment  High cost  Platinum/ruthenium catalyst  Low current  Low power density  “Methanol crossover”  Water byproduct  Damage to electronics  Damage to environment

Disadvantages & Problems  Need for standards  Cartridge specs  Cartridge delivery  Need for standards  Cartridge specs  Cartridge delivery FujitsuToshiba NEC

Solutions  Use water byproduct in fuel or hold in cartridge  Porous silicon, PolyFuel membrane  Ni-Sn catalyst  H 2 O 2 as oxidant - underwater applications  Refill while in use - infinite mobile power  Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells (DBFC’s)  Safer form of H 2, releases 8 e -  Higher current, smaller size vs. DMFC’s  Use water byproduct in fuel or hold in cartridge  Porous silicon, PolyFuel membrane  Ni-Sn catalyst  H 2 O 2 as oxidant - underwater applications  Refill while in use - infinite mobile power  Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells (DBFC’s)  Safer form of H 2, releases 8 e -  Higher current, smaller size vs. DMFC’s

Summary  DMFC’s have the ability to replace most power supplies  More efficient, environmentally-friendly  Cheaper catalysts needed  Higher power output needed  Standardization  DMFC’s have the ability to replace most power supplies  More efficient, environmentally-friendly  Cheaper catalysts needed  Higher power output needed  Standardization

References  PCWorld.com  InfoWorld.com  Toshiba.co.jp  Neahpower.com  DTIEnergy.com  PolyFuel.com    merit.hydrogen.co.jp/R&D/R&D_Main.html  PCWorld.com  InfoWorld.com  Toshiba.co.jp  Neahpower.com  DTIEnergy.com  PolyFuel.com    merit.hydrogen.co.jp/R&D/R&D_Main.html