Study of an Electrochemical Alcohol Concentration Sensor: Optimization of the Anode Structure

Author:

Sgroi Mauro1,Bollito Gianluca1,Innocenti Gianfranco1,Saracco Guido2,Specchia Stefania2,Icardi Ugo Andrea2

Affiliation:

1. Microgeneration Group, Micro & Nanotechnologies, Centro Ricerche FIAT, Strada Torino 50, 10043 Orbassano, Italy

2. Materials Science and Chemical, Engineering Department, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy

Abstract

Micro power sources have a wide potential market for consumer electronics and portable applications, such as weather stations, medical devices, signal units, APU (auxiliary power units), gas sensors, and security cameras. A micro power source could be the direct methanol fuel cell system (DMFC). An important aspect of this system is the precise control of the concentration of the alcohol-water solution fed to the anode. Different detection principles were taken into consideration: electrochemical, infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography, refractometry, density measurements, ultraviolet absorption. The present work is devoted to the study of an electrochemical amperometric sensor. The device is based on the electro-oxidation of methanol to carbon dioxide on platinum catalyst into a polymeric-membrane fuel cell operated as a galvanic cell. The alcohol-water solution under examination is fed to the anode (positive side) of a polymeric membrane fuel cell, where it reacts with water to produce carbon dioxide, protons, and electrons. Protons diffuse through the electrolyte material and recombine with electrons on the cathode catalyst (negative side). At high potentials (>0.7V) mass transfer of methanol to the electrode solution interface controls the observed current. Therefore, it is possible to correlate the solution concentration to the observed limiting current. This method was successfully applied to relatively diluted solutions (concentration <1M). The application of this principle to more concentrate solutions (up to 2M) requires an optimization of the anode structure to enhance the influence of mass transport limitation. Moreover, during continuous operation of the sensor, a decay of the signal was observed: the absence of a steady-state current value hinders the application of the sensor. An explanation of this phenomenon and a possible solution strategy are proposed.

Publisher

ASME International

Subject

Mechanical Engineering,Mechanics of Materials,Energy Engineering and Power Technology,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

Reference11 articles.

1. Specchia, S., Icardi, U. A., Specchia, V., and Saracco, G., 2005. “Compact Direct Methanol Fuel Cells for Portable Applications: A Modeling Study,” Int. J. Chemical React. Eng., 3, A24.

2. Murata Manufacturing, 2005, Commercialization of Methanol Concentration Sensor for Small Fuel Cells (Ultrasonic Velocity Sensor), Murata Manufacturing Co., Kyoto.

3. Kumagai, T., Horiba, T., Kamo, T., Takeuchi, S., Iwamoto, K., Kitami, K., and Tamura, K., 1989, “Fuel Cell Comprising a Device for Detecting the Concentration of Methanol,” U.S. Patent No. 4,810,597.

4. Reliable and Fast-Responding Methanol Concentration Sensor With Novel Design;Qi;Electrochem. Solid-State Lett.

5. A Methanol Sensor for Portable Direct Methanol Fuel Cells;Barton;J. Electrochem. Soc.

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4. Compact direct methanol fuel cells for portable application;Journal of Power Sources;2008-02

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