Investigation of PEM type direct hydrazine fuel cell

Hydrazine was examined as a fuel in a direct-liquid-fueled fuel cell employing proton exchange membrane (PEM) for the electrolyte. Hydrazine showed better performance than methanol in the direct fuel cell; the cell using hydrazine gave voltage twice as high as that using methanol in the low-current density region. The I–V characteristics were drastically changed depending on the surface area of the anode catalyst. Compositions of the exhaust materials from each electrode were analyzed in order to investigate the reaction that occurred at the electrodes. The analysis revealed that the catalytic decomposition reaction of hydrazine proceeded further than the electro-oxidation reaction on the anode side using a high specific surface area catalyst. The crossover of hydrazine and ammonia through the PEM was confirmed and the reduction of the hydrazine crossover is important in developing further high performance.