(Invited) Three Decades of Polymer Electrolyte Based DMFC: A Perspective

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell, where liquid Methanol is used as fuel and directly oxidized electrochemically to generate power, enables energy generation devices with high energy density. Hence these systems have been developed and evaluated for applications where remote and distributed generation of electrical energy are desired 1 . While methanol electro oxidation can in fact be achieved at temperatures in the range of 60 to 80 C, it faced two key challenges: a) The intermediate species formed during the electrooxidation poisoning the catalyst 2 and b) The crossover of methanol to cathode resulting in mixed potential situation on the cathode and thus reducing the cell voltage realized 3 . These have been addressed and mitigated through both materials 4 and engineering solutions 5 . In this talk, we will traverse the three decades of scientific and development journey and along the way we will cover the key contributions by S.R. Narayanan to this important technological pathway for achieving net zero CO2 emission. Dillon, R., Srinivasan, S., Aricò, A.S. and Antonucci, V. (2004) J. Power Sources, 127 (1–2), 112–126. Parsons, R. and VanderNoot, T. (1998) J. Electroanal.Chem., 257 (1–2), 9–45. Heinzel, V.M.Barragan, J. Power. Sources, 84 (1), 70-74 F. Whitacare, T. Valdez, and S. R. Narayanan, J. Electrochem. Soc., 152 (9), A1780-A1789 Halpert, S. Surampudi, H. Frank, S.R. Narayanan, A. Kindler, G. Ganapathi, P. Seshanand S. Krauthamer, ECS Proceedings Volumes, Volume 1995-23, 311