A novel direct methanol fuel cell with sol–gel flux phase

The sol–gel flux phase of direct methanol fuel cell is prepared by the modified sol–gel method with starting materials of Na2SiO3 or Si(OCH3)4, methanol and sulfuric acid, and characterized by SEM. The methanol permeability and electrochemical characteristics of the sol–gel flux phase are investigated. The mass transportation mechanism and the process of methanol has been changed by the porous structure of the sol–gel flux phase. The methanol permeability of the sol–gel flux phase decreases more than 90% compared with the liquid flux phase of 1 mol L−1 CH3OH and 1 mol L−1 H2SO4. A novel direct methanol fuel cell with sol–gel flux phase is designed. The power density of which is higher than that of the cell with liquid flux phase.