Methods for the prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning in solid polymer fuel cells

Methanol is an attractive H2 source for solid polymer fuel cells (SPFCs) in transport applications due to its high on-board energy storage density. Although steam reformation of CH3OH can produce high H2 concentrations (>60%) significant concentrations of CO are also produced in the reaction, i.e. up to 2%. CO preferentially adsorbs on the fuel cell Pt electrocatalyst at typical cell operating temperatures of 80°C and at such reformer CO output concentrations poisoning of the electrocatalyst will occur resulting in a dramatic and rapid decrease in fuel cell performance. Research has therefore been conducted into methods of reducing electrocatalyst CO poisoning, i.e. chemical CO oxidation prior to the fuel cell and controlled electrochemical CO oxidation within the fuel cell. [Continues.]