Electronspun nanofiber network anode for a passive direct methanol fuel cell

•A nanofiber network catalytic structure (NNCL) is used in the anode of a DMFC.•The use of the NNCL leads to a significant increase in catalyst utilization.•The DMFC with 55% reduced anode catalyst loading exhibits a comparable performance.

A novel membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that utilizes a nanofiber network catalytic layer (NNCL) structure in the anode of a passive direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) leads to a significant decrease in noble metal catalyst loading of a DMFC. When the PtRu (1:1) loading within the NNCL is 1.0 mg cm−2, the maximum power density of a DMFC is ca. 33.0 ± 1.9 mW cm−2, which is even slightly higher than that with a conventional MEA with a PtRu loading of 2.0 mg cm−2. Electrochemical tests show that such a NNCL exhibits a great increase in catalyst utilization and a decrease in charge-transfer resistance of the anode in comparison with the conventional MEA. The improved performance of the novel MEA is definitely due to the formation of the nanofiber network structure in the anode. This study provides a promising way to decrease the utilization of the noble metal catalysts for the proton exchange membrane fuel cells.