Effect of catalyst distribution on the performance characteristics of microfluidic fuel cell with flow-through anode

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20220419

Abstract

Abstract:

Microfluidic fuel cell is a kind of new micro-power supply devices. The CO₂ bubbles generated during the operation of the battery in an acidic system will seriously affect the performance and stability of the battery. Studying the dynamic behaviors of bubbles during cell operation is great significance in weakening the impact of bubbles. In this paper, air-breathing microfluidic fuel cells with flow-through anode were constructed, and we studied the effect of the anode catalyst distribution on the cell performance and the CO₂ dynamic behaviors. The results showed that the catalyst distributed on both sides of the anode performed the best performance but poor stability. When the catalysts were distributed on one side, the cell operated stably and the bubbles were mainly formed in the electrolyte flow channel.

Key words: microfluidic, fuel cell, flow-through anode, catalyst distribution, gas-liquid two-phase flow, bubble, cell performance

摘要：

微流体燃料电池是一种新型微型电源装置。酸性体系下电池运行时产生的CO₂气泡会严重影响电池性能以及稳定性。研究电池运行过程中气泡动态行为对削弱气泡影响具有重要意义。本文构建具有可渗透阳极的自呼吸微流体燃料电池，实验研究了阳极催化剂分布对电池性能以及CO₂动态行为的影响。结果表明：催化剂分布在阳极两侧时电池性能最好，但电池波动性大。仅在一侧分布催化剂时，电池运行稳定，气泡主要在电解液流道形成。

关键词: 微流体, 燃料电池, 可渗透阳极, 催化剂分布, 气液两相流, 气泡, 电池性能

CLC Number:

TQ 152

Tong ZHANG, Yang YANG, Dingding YE, Rong CHEN, Xun ZHU, Qiang LIAO. Effect of catalyst distribution on the performance characteristics of microfluidic fuel cell with flow-through anode[J]. CIESC Journal, 2022, 73(9): 4156-4162.

张童, 杨扬, 叶丁丁, 陈蓉, 朱恂, 廖强. 催化剂分布对可渗透阳极微流体燃料电池性能特性影响的研究[J]. 化工学报, 2022, 73(9): 4156-4162.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig.1 Explosive view of the air-breathing microfluidic fuel cell with flow-through anode (a) and schematic illustration of cells with different catalyst distributions (b)

Table 1 The accuracy of measuring instrument

仪器名称	精度特性
电化学工作站	电池电压准确度为±0.05%
电化学工作站	电池电流准确度为±0.05%
Harvard注射泵	流量精度为±0.25%
数据采集仪	电压准确度为±0.64%
游标卡尺	最小刻度0.02 mm
分析天平	精度±0.01 mg

Table 2 Results of uncertainty analysis

测量参数	误差
电极有效面积	±0.2%
电池电流	±0.05%
电极电势	±0.05%
反应物流量	±0.25%
电极尺寸	±0.67%

Fig.2 Effect of catalysts distribution on cell performance (a) and electrode potentials (b)

Fig.3 Chronopotentiometry test of cells with different catalyst distributions

Fig.4 Bubble dynamic behaviors with catalysts distributed on the fuel flow channel side

Fig.5 Bubble dynamic behaviors with catalysts distributed on the electrolyte flow channel side

Fig.6 Bubble dynamic behaviors with catalysts distributed on the both sides of anode

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