The Open Fuel Cells Journal

2009, 2 : 11-14
Published online 2009 December 2. DOI: 10.2174/1875932700902010011
Publisher ID: TOFCJ-2-11

The Progress in the Ongoing Development Work: Enhancement of Glucose Electro-Oxidation in Direct-Mode Fuel Cells - An Update

J.P. Spets , M.J. Lampinen , Y. Kiros , T. Anttila , J. Rantanen , M.A. Kuosa and K. Saari
Helsinki University of Technology, Department of Energy Technology, Applied Thermodynamics, PO Box 4400, FI02150 TKK, Finland

ABSTRACT

This study deals with the R&D regarding the direct glucose fuel cell with a capacity of increasing the power density with glucose as a fuel. The direct-mode fuel cell in which the fuel and the alkaline electrolyte are mixed with each other is tested at room temperature. The direct-mode fuel cell is exposed to an externally generated electromagnetic field with 4 GHz sine signals between electrodes to cause both the splitting of the fuel molecule and the electrochemical oxidation. As a result from the use of the higher frequency signals, a maximum current density of 15 mAcm-2 has been achieved with the total voltage of 0.5 V.

Keywords:

Direct mode fuel cell, Electrochemical reforming, Sine sign, Room temperature.