Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1284861 | Journal of Power Sources | 2010 | 6 Pages |
Prototype alkaline direct 2-propanol fuel cells (AD2PFCs) using commercial Pt/C electrodes and hardware, and a liquid electrolyte, were constructed and compared to the 3-dimensional current–time–potential profiles for the 3-electrode oxidation of 2-propanol. A substantial current maximum occurs at low potentials and is attributed to a change in the mechanism of 2-propanol oxidation. This mechanism change influenced the stability of the AD2PFC; when the cell was polarized to a lower cell voltage limit of 0.5 V, stable and relatively high power densities are achieved. When the cell was polarized to a lower cell voltage limit of 0 V, unstable and only marginally higher power densities were observed. A maximum power density of 22.3 mW mgPt−1 was achieved, and most of the cell polarization occurred at the cathode.