Electrocatalysis of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Hansan Liu is a Research Associate at the National Research Council of Canada Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation. He obtained his PhD in electrochemistry from Xiamen University in 2003, before completing two postdoctoral terms at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2003-2004) and the NRC-IFCI (2005-2007). Dr. Liu has over ten years of research experience in the field of electrochemical energy conversion and storage, covering Ni-MH and lithium ion batteries, solar energy devices, DMFCs, and PEMFCs. His current research interests include fuel cell electrocatalysis, electrode materials of rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors, photoelectrocatalytical materials, and aerosol techniques for nanomaterial synthesis. He has published over thirty papers in peer-reviewed journals, co-edited a fuel cell book, and written four book chapters relating to fuel cells and batteries. He also has three US patents and eight industrial technical reports to his name. Dr. Liu is an active member of the Electrochemical Society and the International Society of Electrochemistry. Jiujun Zhang is a Senior Research Officer and PEM Catalysis Core Competency Leader at the National Research Council of Canada Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation. He received his BS and MSc in electrochemistry from Beijing University, and his PhD from Wuhan University. After this, he took up a position as an associate professor at the Huazhong Normal University for two years, followed by three terms of postdoctoral research at the California Institute of Technology, York University, and the University of British Columbia. He also holds several adjunct professorships, including one at the University of Waterloo and one at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Zhang has more than 27 years of R&D experience in theoretical and applied electrochemistry, including over 13 years of fuel cell R&D, and three years of electrochemical sensor experience. He has over 220 publications to his name, including 140 refereed journal papers, three books, and 11 book chapters, as well as several patents and nine patent publications. Dr. Zhang is an active member of The Electrochemical Society, the International Society of Electrochemistry, and the American Chemical Society.

"The book will also be advantageously used as a reference by undergraduate and graduate post secondary students, as well as scientists and engineers who work in the areas of energy, electrochemistry science/technology, fuel cells, and electrocatalysis." (Current Engineering Practice, 1 November 2010)

• DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLS: HISTORY, STATUS AND PERSPECTIVESIntroductionConcept of Direct Methanol Fuel CellsHistorical Aspects of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Development and State of ArtsCurrent Status of DMFC Technology for Different Fields of ApplicationPerspectives of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells and Techno-Economical ChallengesNANOSTRUCTURED ELECTROCATALYST SYNTHESIS: FUNDAMENTAL AND METHODSIntroductionFundamental Understanding of Structure Activity RelationshipSynthetic Methods of Conventional Carbon-Supported CatalystsSynthetic Methods of Novel Unsupported Pt NanostructuresConclusionsELECTROCATALYST CHARACTERIZATION AND ACTIVITY VALIDATION -FUNDAMENTALS AND METHODSIntroductionDirect Methanol Fuel Cells -Role of ElectrocatalystsCharacterization Techniques for Anode and Cathode CatalystsEvaluation of Electrocatalyst Activity, Electrochemical Active Surface Area, Catalyst -Adsorbate Interactions, and Activity Validation TechniquesConclusions and OutlookCOMBINATORIAL AND HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING OF DMFC ELECTROCATALYSTSIntroductionCommon Procedures for Devlopment of DMFC CatalystsGeneral Methods for Combinatorial and High Throughput ScreeningMethods for Combinatorial SynthesisElectrode Arrays for High Throughput ScreeningOther Screening Methods for Catalyst DiscoverCombinatorial Methods for Fuel Cell Evaluation and Data AnalysisChallenge and PerspectiveSTATE-OF-THE-ART ELECTROCATALYSTS FOR DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLSIntroductionElectrocatalysis and Electrocatalysts for DMFCDMFC Electrocatalyst Characterization and EvaluationDMFC Performance Advancement via MEA DesignProspects for DMFCConclusionsPLATINUM ALLOYS AS ANODE CATALYSTS FOR DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLSIntroductionPhase Diagram vs. Activity: New Chances for DMFC AnodesPreparation Methods of Pt AlloysActivity Evaluation of Pt AlloysStability of Pt-Ru Catalysts in DMFC EnvironmentConclusionsMETHANOL TOLERANT CATHODE CATALYSTS FOR DMFCIntroductionThermodynamics and Kinetics of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR)Experimental DetailsSynthesis and Characterizations of Nanostructured Catalysts for the ORRCatalyst Tolerance in the Presence of MethanolSummary and OutlookCARBON NANOTUBE-SUPPORTED CATALYSTS FOR THE DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLIntroductionPreparation of Carbon Nanotube-Supported CatalystsCharacteristics of Carbon Nanotube-ElectrodeElectrochemical Behaviors of Carbon Nanotube-Supported CatalystsDirect Growth of Carbon Nanotubes as Catalyst-SupportsConclusionMESOPOROUS CARBON SUPPORTED CATALYSTS FOR DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLSIntroductionMesoporous CarbonMesoporous Carbon Supported CatalystFuel Cell Performance of Mesoporous Carbon Supported CatalystSummary and ProspectPROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANES FOR DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLSIntroductionSynthesis of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for DMFCConclusionsFABRICATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF DMFC CATALYST LAYERS AND MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIESIntroductionComponents for DMFC Catalyst Layer OptimizationCatalyzed DMFC Electrode Structure and Fabrication ProcessOther Electrode Fabrication Methods for DMFCsSummaryLOCAL CURRENT DISTRIBUTION IN DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLSIntroductionModelBifunctional Regime of DMFC OperationDirect Methanol-Hydrogen Fuel CellBifunctional Activation of DMFCConclusionsELECTROCATALYSIS IN THE DIRECT METHANOL ALKALINE FUEL CELLIntroductionHistory of Alkaline Methanol Fuel CellsElectrocatalysis of Methanol Oxidation in Alkaline MediaOxygen Reduction and Methanol Tolerant ElectrocatalystsDirect Methanol Fuel Cells in Alkaline MediaDirect Alkaline Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel CellsAlkaline Fuel Cells with Other Direct Liquid FuelsFuture Prospects of Direct Methanol Alkaline Fuel CellsELECTROCATALYSIS IN OTHER DIRECT LIQUID FUEL CELLSIntroductionElectrocatalysis of Direct Formic Acid Fuel CellsElectrocatalysis of Direct Ethanol Fuel CellsElectrocatalysis of Direct Hydrazine Fuel CellsOther Direct Liquid Fueled Fuel CellsSummary