Bi-functional anode and High Temperature Electrolyte Membrane for Reforming Methanol Fuel Cell (RMFC).

The application of solid acid fuel cells (SAFC) as reforming methanol fuel cells (RMFCs) is extremely attractive due to the nearly ideal temperature match between fuel cell electrolyte (for CsH2PO4, operational temperatures are 235-275ºC) and typical methanol steam reforming catalysts (MSRCs; reforming temperatures typically range from 250-350ºC). This temperature match, in addition to the high CO tolerance of SAFCs, allows for methanol steam reforming internal to the stack to create a solid acid based RMFC. This project will establish the feasibility of incorporating a methanol steam reforming catalyst (MRSC) material into the anode of Superprotonic’s current MEA/stack design to create a bi-functional anode SAFC.