Effect of Anode and Cathode Current-Collector Structure on Performance of a Passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Abstract

In this work, the effect of the current-collector structure on the performance of a passive direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) was investigated. Parallel current-collector (PACC) and other two kinds of perforated current collectors (PECC) were designed, fabricated and tested. The studies were conducted in a passive DMFC with active membrane area of 9 cm2, working at ambient temperature and pressure. Two kinds of methanol solution of 2 M and 4 M were used. Results showed that the PACC as anode current-collector has a positive effect on cell voltage and power. For the cathode current-collector structure, the methanol concentration of 2 M for PECC-2 (higher open ratio 50.27 %) increased performance of DMFC. But the methanol concentration of 4 M led to an enhancement of fuel cell performance that used PACC or PECC-2 as cathode current-collector.