The present invention relates to an electrolyte membrane, said electrolyte membrane being excellent for use in an electrochemical device, particularly a fuel cell, and more specifically a direct alcohol type fuel cell.
Accompanying increased activity in global environmental protection, prevention of the emission of so-called greenhouse gases and NOx is being strongly called for. Putting automobile fuel cell systems into practical use is considered to be very effective for reducing the total emission of such gases.
Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC, Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell), which are one type of electrochemical device employing a polymer electrolyte membrane, have excellent advantages such as low temperature operation, high output density, and a low environmental load. Among them, a PEFC for methanol fuel is thought to be promising as power for an electric automobile or a power source for portable equipment since methanol fuel can be supplied as a liquid fuel in the same way as gasoline.
PEFCs employing methanol as a fuel are divided into two types, that is, a reformed methanol type in which methanol is converted into a gas containing hydrogen as a main component using a reformer, and a direct methanol type (DMFC, Direct Methanol Fuel Cell) in which methanol is used directly without using a reformer. Since the DMFC does not require a reformer it has large advantages, such as it being possible to reduce the weight, and it is anticipated that it will be put into practical use.
Comments (4)
Government's involvement in all of this IS the problem. You can no sooner invest in ONE technology, than government will give your competitor several billion dollars and make your investment worthless: You want methanol? The day after you put in your dollars in the investment, government subsidizes hydrogen filling stations. Bye-bye methanol.
Subsidizing all of this has become more of a problem than a solution.
tomgoldie
Private investment usally wants a pay back in thier life time. Government has a role to play.
car running on hydrogen fuel cells would need costly new service stations, by using Direct Methanol Fuel Cells you can use the current service stations.
You can use waste wood to make methanol (wood alcohol).