Alcohol Not For Drinking:

Direct Methanol Fuel CellsTony Tong

November 23, 2004CH 407H: The Science and Technology of Batteries

Oregon State University

What are DMFC’s?Uses methanol, a cheap and safe fuelNo reformer neededOperable at room temperaturesDTI Energy, Inc. holds exclusive

worldwide licensing rights

How DMFC’s work

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

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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

Advantages & BenefitsLonger usage vs. batteriesLightweight / scalableNo need to rechargeCleaner than IC enginesLiquid fuel can be pumped from gas

stationsQuickTime™ and a

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QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

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Source: Toshiba

Disadvantages & ProblemsHigh cost

Platinum/ruthenium catalystLow currentLow power density“Methanol crossover”Water byproduct

Damage to electronicsDamage to environment

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Disadvantages & ProblemsNeed for standards

Cartridge specsCartridge delivery

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Fujitsu Toshiba

NEC

SolutionsUse water byproduct in fuel or hold in cartridgePorous silicon, PolyFuel membraneNi-Sn catalystH2O2 as oxidant - underwater applicationsRefill while in use - infinite mobile powerDirect Borohydride Fuel Cells (DBFC’s)

Safer form of H2, releases 8 e-

Higher current, smaller size vs. DMFC’s

SummaryDMFC’s have the ability to replace most

power suppliesMore efficient, environmentally-friendlyCheaper catalysts neededHigher power output neededStandardization

References PCWorld.com InfoWorld.com Toshiba.co.jp Neahpower.com DTIEnergy.com PolyFuel.com www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/jfagan/sumdmfc2.html www.engr.wisc.edu/news/headlines/2003/Jun30.html merit.hydrogen.co.jp/R&D/R&D_Main.html