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?What are DMFC’s?

Uses methanol, a cheap and safe fuelNo reformer neededOperable at room temperaturesDTI Energy, Inc. holds exclusive

worldwide licensing rights

Uses methanol, a cheap and safe fuelNo reformer neededOperable at room temperaturesDTI Energy, Inc. holds exclusive

worldwide licensing rights

How DMFC’s workHow DMFC’s work

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Source: DTI Energy, Inc.

Applications of DMFC’sApplications 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 & BenefitsAdvantages & Benefits

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

stations

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

stations

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Source: Toshiba

Disadvantages & ProblemsDisadvantages & Problems

High costPlatinum/ruthenium catalyst

Low currentLow power density“Methanol crossover”Water byproduct

Damage to electronicsDamage to environment

High costPlatinum/ruthenium catalyst

Low currentLow power density“Methanol crossover”Water byproduct

Damage to electronicsDamage to environment

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Disadvantages & ProblemsDisadvantages & Problems

Need for standardsCartridge specsCartridge delivery

Need for standardsCartridge specsCartridge delivery

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Fujitsu Toshiba

NEC

SolutionsSolutions

Use water byproduct in fuel or hold in cartridge

Porous 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

Use water byproduct in fuel or hold in cartridge

Porous 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

SummarySummary

DMFC’s have the ability to replace most power supplies

More efficient, environmentally-friendlyCheaper catalysts neededHigher power output neededStandardization

DMFC’s have the ability to replace most power supplies

More efficient, environmentally-friendlyCheaper catalysts neededHigher power output neededStandardization

ReferencesReferences

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

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