Polymer Electrolyte Membrane and Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Technology: Volume 1

Contributor contact details Woodhead Publishing Series in Energy Preface Part I: Fundamentals of polymer electrolyte membrane and direct methanol fuel cell technology Chapter 1: Fuels and fuel processing for low temperature fuel cells Abstract: 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Thermodynamics of fuel cell operation and the effect of fuel on performance 1.3 Hydrogen 1.4 Hydrocarbon fuels and fuel processing 1.5 Methanol 1.6 Other sources of hydrogen 1.7 Deleterious effects of fuels on fuel cell performance 1.8 Conclusions 1.9 Acknowledgements Chapter 2: Membrane materials and technology for low temperature fuel cells Abstract: 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Perfluorosulfonic acid membranes 2.3 Morphology and microstructure of ionomer membranes 2.4 Non-perfluorinated membranes Chapter 3: Catalyst and membrane technology for low temperature fuel cells Abstract: 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) 3.3 Catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) Chapter 4: Gas diffusion media, flowfields and system aspects in low temperature fuel cells Abstract: 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Gas diffusion media 4.3 Flow field design 4.4 System layout 4.5 Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) system architecture 4.6 Conclusions Chapter 5: Recycling and life cycle assessment of fuel cell materials Abstract: 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Environmental aspects of fuel cells 5.3 Fuel cell hardware recycling 5.4 Life cycle assessment of fuel cell fuels and materials 5.5 Future trends 5.6 Sources of further information and advice Part II: Performance issues in polymer electrolyte membrane and direct methanol fuel cells Chapter 6: Operation and durability of low temperature fuel cells Abstract: 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Thermal management 6.3 Water management 6.4 Reactant flow management 6.5 Contamination 6.6 Duty cycle impacts on durability 6.7 Implementation of approaches to extend lifetime 6.8 Future trends 6.9 Sources of further information 6.10 Acknowledgements Chapter 7: Catalyst ageing and degradation in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells Abstract: 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Catalyst ageing mechanism 7.3 Characterization of catalyst degradation 7.4 Identical-location transmission electron microscopy 7.5 Future trends Chapter 8: Degradation and durability testing of low temperature fuel cell components Abstract: 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Chemical degradation of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) 8.3 Pt dissolution 8.4 Carbon support corrosion 8.5 Contamination sources 8.6 Conclusions Chapter 9: Microstructure reconstruction and transport simulation in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells Abstract: 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Microstructure reconstruction 9.3 Analysis of transport characteristics 9.4 Conclusions 9.5 Acknowledgements Chapter 10: Multi-scale modeling of two-phase transport in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells Abstract: 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Pore network modeling 10.3 Lattice Boltzmann modeling 10.4 Macroscopic upscaling 10.5 Conclusions 10.6 Acknowledgement Chapter 11: Modelling and analysis of degradation phenomena in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells Abstract: 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Aging mechanisms of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) materials and performance decay: why physical modelling? 11.3 Towards a multi-scale modelling framework for PEMFC degradation analysis 11.4 Conclusions, perspectives and challenges Chapter 12: Experimental monitoring techniques for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells Abstract: 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Reasons for monitoring fuel cells 12.3 Experimental monitoring techniques 12.4 Application example: detection of liquid water in fuel cells by conductimetric technique 12.5 Recent trends and conclusions Index