Compact fuel cell system developers aim to have 3 to 4 times the energy storage of a lithium battery, in the same size and weight package.  Developers face a key challenge:  How to achieve the high power density they need as well as a several thousand hour lifetime without performance degradation, at an acceptable cost. 

 

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC) is the primary type of fuel cell being developed for consumer electronics and portable power markets.  DMFC systems are fuelled with methanol, an alcohol type fuel.

 

Cabot is a leading supplier of electrocatalysts for DMFC.  Cabots' DMFC electrocatalysts provide a superior combination of performance, durability and efficient platinum utilization.  Cabot supplies both Platinum-Ruthenium-on-Carbon electrocatalysts for the Anode electrode, and Platinum-on-carbon electrocatalysts for the Cathode electrode in product form.

 

Cabot's electrocatalysts offer unique spherical secondary structure, very high dispersion of the active phase and single alloy phase.  The spherical structure helps reduce mass transport limitations and enables customers to make low viscosity catalyst inks, which allows use of a wider range of printing methods and facilitates printing of high quality electrode layers.  High dispersion of the active phase, ensures maximum utilization of platinum.  Single phase alloys provide resistance to degradation and ruthenium leaching.

 

Photo courtesy of Smart Fuel Cells AG

 

Cabot's DMFC electrocatalysts provide the following benefits:

 

• High power density with high catalyst utilization with small Platinum and Platinum-Ruthenium crystalline size
• Excellent durability with low decay due to high alloy level and dramatically low Ruthenium leaching compared to other conventional catalysts
• Tailored hydrophilicity properties for methanol and water transport management
• Lower cost per watt, due to high utilization of Platinum

 

Printing of the electrocatalyst is a key step in the fuel cell assembly process.  Cabot supports its customers with guidance on how to formulate electrocatalyst inks and can provide additional expertise to assist with design and analysis of electrode assemblies.

 

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