This first book to focus on a comprehensive description on DMFC electrocatalysis draws a clear picture of the current status of DMFC technology, especially the advances, challenges and perspectives in the field. Leading researchers from universities, government laboratories and fuel cell industries in North America, Europe and Asia share their knowledge and information on recent advances in the fundamental theories, experimental methodologies and research achievements. In order to help readers better understand the science and technology of the subject, some important and representative figures, tables, photos, and comprehensive lists of reference papers are also included, such that all the information needed on this topic may be easily located. An indispensable source for physical, catalytic, electro- and solid state chemists, as well as materials scientists and chemists in industry.

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Technology presents the overall progress witnessed in the field of DMFC over the past decade, highlighting the components, materials, functions, properties and features, designs and configurations, operations, modelling, applications, pros and cons, social, political and market penetration, economics and future directions. The book discusses every single aspect of DMFC device technology, the associated advantages and drawbacks of state-of-the-art materials and design, market opportunities and commercialization aspects, and possible future directions of research and development. This book, containing critical analyses and opinions from experts around the world, will garner considerable interest among actual users/scientists/experts. Analyzes developments of membrane electrolytes, electrodes, catalysts, catalyst supports, bipolar plates, gas diffusion layers and flow channels as critical components of direct methanol fuel cells Includes modeling of direct methanol fuel cells to understand their scaling up potentials Discusses commercial aspects of direct methanol fuel cells in terms of market penetration, end application, cost, viability, reliability, social and commercial perception, drawbacks and prospects

"Energy Technology, Physical Electrochemistry and Battery Divisions."

Meeting the need for a text on solutions to conditions which have so far been a drawback for this important and trend-setting technology, this monograph places special emphasis on novel, alternative catalysts of low temperature fuel cells. Comprehensive in its coverage, the text discusses not only the electrochemical, mechanistic, and material scientific background, but also provides extensive chapters on the design and fabrication of electrocatalysts. A valuable resource aimed at multidisciplinary audiences in the fields of academia and industry.

Fuel cells are one of the most promising clean energy conversion devices that can solve the environmental and energy problems in our society. However, the high platinum loading of fuel cells - and thus their high cost - prevents their commercialization. Non- or low- platinum electrocatalysts are needed to lower the fuel cell cost. Electrocatalysis in Fuel Cells: A Non and Low Platinum Approach is a comprehensive book summarizing recent advances of electrocatalysis in oxygen reduction and alcohol oxidation, with a particular focus on non- and low-Pt electrocatalysts. All twenty four chapters were written by worldwide experts in their fields. The fundamentals and applications of novel electrocatalysts are discussed thoroughly in the book. The book is geared toward researchers in the field, postgraduate students and lecturers, and scientists and engineers at fuel cell and automotive companies. It can even be a reference book for those who are interested in this area.

Due to the steady depletion of mineral fuels and the environmental pollution from conventional engines, there have been great interests in developing fuel cells. At present, the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is one of the leading fuel cell systems. Currently, the widely used electrocatalyst for the DMFC is the Pt/Ru bimetallic system. But the disadvantages of Pt/Ru catalyst are its high costs, and its susceptibility toward CO poisoning due to the strong chemisorption of CO. Therefore, an alternative electrocatalyst with the activity toward the dissociation of methanol and water is very desirable to facilitate the commercialization of DMFC. The transition metal carbides have been shown to exhibit catalytic properties similar to Pt-Group metals in reactions with hydrocarbon molecules. This work is to determine the feasibility of using WCs as an alternative anode catalyst. This work began by synthesizing and characterizing the PVD WC thin films, in order to bridge the materials gap between previous model crystal surfaces and the more realistic electrocatalysts. Fundamental surface science techniques where applied to examine the composition of the film. Ex situ cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements have been applied to examine the electrocatalyst stability of the thin films. Supported WCs synthesized by temperature programmed reaction (TPR) technique was also used as a bridge material with a larger surface area than PVD thin films. Supported WC samples were also tested by surface science techniques. CV measurements were performed to examine the electrocatalyst stability and methanol oxidation in an electrochemical environment. In ex situ CV study, the solution is very complicated for deciding the activity of WC towards methanol oxidation. A gas phase reaction, cyclohexene self-hydrogenation as a probe reaction for WC reactivity was performed in a batch reactor with IR, in order to evaluate the dehydrogenation activity of WC and Pt-modified WC.

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are promising clean energy converting devices with high efficiency and low to zero emissions. Such power sources can be used in transportation, stationary, portable and micro power applications. The key components of these fuel cells are catalysts and catalyst layers. “PEM Fuel Cell Electrocatalysts and Catalyst Layers” provides a comprehensive, in-depth survey of the field, presented by internationally renowned fuel cell scientists. The opening chapters introduce the fundamentals of electrochemical theory and fuel cell catalysis. Later chapters investigate the synthesis, characterization, and activity validation of PEM fuel cell catalysts. Further chapters describe in detail the integration of the electrocatalyst/catalyst layers into the fuel cell, and their performance validation. Researchers and engineers in the fuel cell industry will find this book a valuable resource, as will students of electrochemical engineering and catalyst synthesis.