The Open Fuel Cells Journal

2008, 1 : 1-3
Published online 2008 October 17. DOI: 10.2174/1875932700801010001
Publisher ID: TOFCJ-1-1

Starch and Cellulose as Fuel Sources for Low Temperature Direct Mode Fuel Cells

J.-P. Spets , Y. Kiros , M. A. Kuosa , J. Rantanen , J. Sallinen , M. J. Lampinen and K. Saari
Helsinki University of Technology, Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics, P.O. Box 4400, FI-02150 TKK, Finland.

ABSTRACT

This paper is a study about a direct mode fuel cell with a near-neutral-state and alkaline electrolytes. The aim of study was to develop a fuel cell, which operates directly by mixing the fuel with the electrolyte. This arrangement helps to avoid inserting membranes and additional bacterial cultures in fuel cell. The target is also to create a fuel cell with a capacity of few mWcm-2 with the starch as a fuel. Also, glucose and sorbitol have been tested as fuel for the fuel cell.

Keywords:

Direct mode fuel cell, neutral and alkaline electrolyte, catalyst materials, lucose and sorbitol, starch.