Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell (DEFC) Assembled with Ceramic Membrane-Catalyst

Direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) has been assembled with the ceramic membrane based-Pt/C (40wt%) catalyst electrodes. The porous silicon carbide (SiC) membrane, fabricated through sintering process, was applied for the fabrication of DEFC. The dilute ethanol-water fuel solution was used for the DEFC operation with a micropump and air blower. The direct ethanol oxidation based-ceramic membrane fuel cell showed relatively stable potential-current behavior even though at room temperature by a continuous air-blowing and a circulation of the dilute-ethanol fuel solution. The other chemicals such as acetaldehyde or acetic acid, being formed during DEFC operation, was not detected from the NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectrum analyzed with the dilute ethanol fuel solution collected upto 90min.