Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Vol.42, No.10, 833-841, 2012
Direct conversion of dimethyl ether in high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells under stationary and dynamic conditions
The behavior of a polybenzimidazole-based high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell using dimethyl ether (DME) as fuel was investigated under stationary and dynamic load conditions. The power density was enhanced significantly with an increase of both operating temperature and anodic water stoichiometry. Likewise, the power density decreased with increasing DME stoichiometry. The characterization of the dynamic operation showed a strong qualitative similarity to low-temperature direct methanol fuel cells. The development of the cell voltage after a spontaneous change of cell current density could be assigned to the electrochemical oxidation of an intermediate species.