Improvement of fuel and air supply method for a zigzag-type DM FC

A new direct methanol fuel cell with a zigzag-folded membrane electrode assembly is proposed. The fuel cell can achieve high output voltage through a simple in-series connection. The problem of fuel supply, which causes decreased output voltage, is examined. For the capillary action fuel supply method, a 4 mm thick filter paper was sufficient to supply fuel to the cell for 1 h operation. To curb the decrease in output, the capillary action fuel supply method was changed to an immersion fuel supply method. For the immersion fuel supply method, a 10 mm width cathode was sufficient to supply air to the entire cell. An air blower was also employed to gain higher output voltage; the output voltage was approximately four times higher than that without the blower. The fabrication of holes in the middle of the air supply pipe was also effective for air supply to the entire cell.