In situ hydrogen utilization in an internal reforming methanol fuel cell

•Highly active Cu-based methanol reforming catalyst deposited on a carbon paper.•Ultrathin methanol reformer incorporated into the HT-PEM fuel cell.•Inhibition effect of the produced hydrogen.•Flow distribution arrangement affects the methanol reforming activity.•Efficient operation of Internal Reforming Methanol Fuel Cell at 210 °C.

In this work, we report on the catalytic properties of a novel ultrathin methanol reformer incorporated into the anode compartment of a High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell (HT-PEMFC). A highly active Cu-based methanol reforming catalyst (HiFuel R120, Johnson Matthey) was deposited on the gas diffusion layer of a carbon paper and the influence of anode flow distribution through the catalytic bed was studied in the temperature range of 160–220 °C. Inhibition by produced H2 is higher in the case of through plane flow, especially in more concentrated methanol feeds. Higher methanol conversions were achieved with the in-plane flow distribution along the catalytic bed (>98% at 210 °C and without any deactivation for at least 100 h test), with a 50 cm2 reformer (total thickness = 600 μm). The corresponding Internal Reforming Methanol Fuel Cell (IRMFC) operated efficiently for more than 72 h at 210 °C with a cell voltage of 642 mV at 0.2 A cm−2, when 30% CH3OH/45% H2O/He (anode feed) and pure O2 (cathode feed) were supplied.

Graphical abstractIn-plane (left) and through-plane (right) distribution of the flow along the reformer incorporated into the anode side of a high temperature PEM fuel cell (cross-section view).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide