Effects of SO₂ in Air on Performance of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Authors

Bin QIN, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China;University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China;
Fen-ning JING, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China;
Xue-jing SUN, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China;University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China;
Gong-quan SUN, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China;Follow
Hai SUN, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China;Follow

Corresponding Author

Gong-quan SUN(gqsun@dicp.ac.cn);
Hai SUN(sunhai@dicp.ac.cn)

Abstract

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) generally use oxygen as an oxidant. Contaminants such as sulfides and nitrides in the air can affect the performance of the DMFC. In this work, the effects of SO₂ on the performance of DMFC were investigated and the mechanism of poisoning was analyzed, by means of constant current discharge curve, polarization performance curve, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). In the CV scan, the permeated methanol was oxidized at a low potential to eliminate its effect on the SO₂ poisoning behavior test. The results showed that the SO₂ poisoning resulted in a decrease in the electrochemical activity surface area (ECSA) of the catalyst. Meanwhile, the EIS data indicated that the poisoning led to an increase in the charge transfer resistance of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Therefore, the poison accelerated decay of the open circuit voltage and operating voltage of the DMFC, and decreased the peak power density. Further investigations of three recovery strategies, dry air purging and load-shifting I-V operations could only partially restore the performance of DMFC. However, CV scanning could accomplish the recovery more completely.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

direct methanol fuel cell, sulfur dioxide, adsorption, recovery

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.180858

Publication Date

2018-12-28

Online Available Date

2018-11-14

Revised Date

2018-11-13

Received Date

2018-10-10

Recommended Citation

Bin QIN, Fen-ning JING, Xue-jing SUN, Gong-quan SUN, Hai SUN. Effects of SO₂ in Air on Performance of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2018 , 24(6): 707-714.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.180858
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol24/iss6/12