Abstract
The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is currently one of the most promising alternative power sources because of its high energy, simple design and operation. However, the DMFC still faces several problems, such as sluggish methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction, as well as a high methanol crossover. In other areas of study, it is well-known that methanol can be photocatalytically oxidized by wide band gap semiconductors under solar illumination. Methanol has been used in photocatalytic water splitting to enhance the performance of photo-electrochemical cells (PECs). Therefore, by combining photocatalytic and electro-catalytic mechanisms, methanol is expected to promote a new type of photo-assisted DMFC. In this work, the semiconductor TiO2 was used as a photo-catalyst in a PEC using a methanol solution. A TiO2 P25 suspension was cast onto carbon paper and then dried at 80 °C for 60 min. The photo-electrochemical measurements were carried out in a 3-arm electrochemical cell, using Pt wire as the counter electrode and Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode. Linear scan voltammetry (LSV) was carried out using a 20 V/400 mA potentiostat. The current densities of the electrode were monitored with and without simulated solar illumination. From the investigation, the current density of the TiO2 electrode under solar illumination was higher than it was without solar illumination. However, the value is low due to the low activity of TiO2 under visible light illumination. Further studies were carried out by combining TiO2 with a carbon material and a noble metal alloy to maximize the current density. This modified photo-catalyst can be utilized in a new photo-assisted DMFC to produce higher electricity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | International Journal of Hydrogen Energy |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 6 Nov 2015 |
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Keywords
- Direct methanol fuel cell
- Methanol oxidation
- Photocatalytic
- Titanium oxide
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Fuel Technology
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Cite this
Enhancing methanol oxidation with a TiO2-modified semiconductor as a photo-catalyst. / Ahmad, Haslina; Kamarudin, Siti Kartom; Effery Minggu, Lorna; Hasran, Umi Azmah; Mastar @ Masdar, Mohd Shahbudin; Wan Daud, Wan Ramli.
In: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 06.11.2015.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhancing methanol oxidation with a TiO2-modified semiconductor as a photo-catalyst
AU - Ahmad, Haslina
AU - Kamarudin, Siti Kartom
AU - Effery Minggu, Lorna
AU - Hasran, Umi Azmah
AU - Mastar @ Masdar, Mohd Shahbudin
AU - Wan Daud, Wan Ramli
PY - 2015/11/6
Y1 - 2015/11/6
N2 - The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is currently one of the most promising alternative power sources because of its high energy, simple design and operation. However, the DMFC still faces several problems, such as sluggish methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction, as well as a high methanol crossover. In other areas of study, it is well-known that methanol can be photocatalytically oxidized by wide band gap semiconductors under solar illumination. Methanol has been used in photocatalytic water splitting to enhance the performance of photo-electrochemical cells (PECs). Therefore, by combining photocatalytic and electro-catalytic mechanisms, methanol is expected to promote a new type of photo-assisted DMFC. In this work, the semiconductor TiO2 was used as a photo-catalyst in a PEC using a methanol solution. A TiO2 P25 suspension was cast onto carbon paper and then dried at 80 °C for 60 min. The photo-electrochemical measurements were carried out in a 3-arm electrochemical cell, using Pt wire as the counter electrode and Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode. Linear scan voltammetry (LSV) was carried out using a 20 V/400 mA potentiostat. The current densities of the electrode were monitored with and without simulated solar illumination. From the investigation, the current density of the TiO2 electrode under solar illumination was higher than it was without solar illumination. However, the value is low due to the low activity of TiO2 under visible light illumination. Further studies were carried out by combining TiO2 with a carbon material and a noble metal alloy to maximize the current density. This modified photo-catalyst can be utilized in a new photo-assisted DMFC to produce higher electricity.
AB - The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is currently one of the most promising alternative power sources because of its high energy, simple design and operation. However, the DMFC still faces several problems, such as sluggish methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction, as well as a high methanol crossover. In other areas of study, it is well-known that methanol can be photocatalytically oxidized by wide band gap semiconductors under solar illumination. Methanol has been used in photocatalytic water splitting to enhance the performance of photo-electrochemical cells (PECs). Therefore, by combining photocatalytic and electro-catalytic mechanisms, methanol is expected to promote a new type of photo-assisted DMFC. In this work, the semiconductor TiO2 was used as a photo-catalyst in a PEC using a methanol solution. A TiO2 P25 suspension was cast onto carbon paper and then dried at 80 °C for 60 min. The photo-electrochemical measurements were carried out in a 3-arm electrochemical cell, using Pt wire as the counter electrode and Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode. Linear scan voltammetry (LSV) was carried out using a 20 V/400 mA potentiostat. The current densities of the electrode were monitored with and without simulated solar illumination. From the investigation, the current density of the TiO2 electrode under solar illumination was higher than it was without solar illumination. However, the value is low due to the low activity of TiO2 under visible light illumination. Further studies were carried out by combining TiO2 with a carbon material and a noble metal alloy to maximize the current density. This modified photo-catalyst can be utilized in a new photo-assisted DMFC to produce higher electricity.
KW - Direct methanol fuel cell
KW - Methanol oxidation
KW - Photocatalytic
KW - Titanium oxide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84969920352&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84969920352&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.04.135
DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.04.135
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84969920352
JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
SN - 0360-3199
ER -