Composite Polymer Electrolyte for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell Application.

An electrochemical investigation has been carried out by using ethanol as alternative liquid fuel to methanol in a Direct Alcohol Fuel Cell (DAFC). Although methanol shows better performance with respect to ethanol, this latter represents a suitable fuel for DAFC; it is not toxic, it can be obtained from biomasses and it has a theoretical mass energy density larger than methanol. 85%Pt-Ru/C and 60%Pt/C in-house catalysts have been prepared for ethanol electro-oxidation and oxygen electro-reduction reactions, respectively, by the sulfite complex route. A composite membrane composed by Nafion ionomer and silica was fabricated in order to maintain the advantageous water retention properties of these materials at high temperatures (90-145{degree sign}C). The electrochemical behaviour of the composite membranes was also investigated in DEFCs at low temperatures (60-80{degree sign}C).