Licensable Technologies : Security & Defense

Enhanced methanol utilization in direct methanol fuel cell

Abstract
The fuel utilization of a direct methanol fuel cell is enhanced for improved cell efficiency. Distribution plates at the anode and cathode of the fuel cell are configured to distribute reactants vertically and laterally uniformly over a catalyzed membrane surface of the fuel cell. A conductive sheet between the anode distribution plate and the anodic membrane surface forms a mass transport barrier to the methanol fuel that is large relative to a mass transport barrier for a gaseous hydrogen fuel cell. In a preferred embodiment, the distribution plate is a perforated corrugated sheet. The mass transport barrier may be conveniently increased by increasing the thickness of an anode conductive sheet adjacent the membrane surface of the fuel cell.

IP Status: Available Non Exclusively

Reference Number: 505

S Number: DOE reference no.(s): 91,719; 91,744

Patents & Applications:
United States National Patent Number 6296964 Issued on 10/02/2001

Posted: 09-27-2004

Contact
Laura Barber
Technology Transfer Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MailStop C334
(505) 667-9266
ljbb@lanl.gov