A quasi-direct methanol fuel cell system based on blend polymer membrane electrolytes

On the basis of blend polymer electrolytes of polybenzimidazole and sulfonated polysulfone, a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell was developed with an operational temperature up to 200degrees C. Due to the high operational temperature, the fuel cell can tolerate 1.0-3.0 vol % CO in the fuel, compared to less than 100 ppm CO for the Nafion-based technology at 80degrees C. The high CO tolerance makes it possible to use the reformed hydrogen directly from a simple methanol reformer without further CO removal. That both the fuel cell and the methanol reformer operate at temperatures around 200degrees C opens the possibility for an integrated system. The resulting system is expected to exhibit high power density and simple construction as well as efficient capital and operational cost. (C) 2002 The Electrochemical Society.