Low methanol crossover and high efficiency direct methanol fuel cell: The influence of diffusion layers

▶ Carbon dioxide flow through the membrane in the investigated condition, can be considered negligible. ▶ CO2 measurement at cathode outlet is a reliable indicator of methanol crossover. ▶ In the investigated conditions cathode feeding has very slight effects on methanol crossover. ▶ The presence of cathode MPL has minor effects on performance; it could determine a strong reduction in methanol crossover, approximately 15% in the present analysis. ▶ The presence of anode MPL has also a dramatic influence on methanol crossover: a reduction of approximately 45% at low current density in the present analysis. ▶ The introduction of MPL at both anode and cathode determines in general a considerable increment in the efficiency but also a moderate decrease of power density.