CONCENTRATION SENSOR OF CARBON NANOTUBE AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING STATE OF METHANOL CONCENTRATION FOR DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELL

摘要

Provided are a concentration detection sensor, which detects dielectric variations according to a desired kind of methanol concentrations, and an apparatus for detecting a methanol concentration of a direct methanol fuel cell, which enhances an efficiency of a fuel cell and enables a user to replenish and change methanol in a suitable time. A concentration detection sensor comprises: an electrode(23) to which power is applied; a substrate(21) on which the electrode pattern is formed; and a sensing membrane(22) which covers the electrode pattern and is composed of carbon nanotubes deposited on a predetermined portion of the whole area of the substrate. The apparatus for detecting a methanol concentration of a direct methanol fuel cell includes: a power part which converts power into necessary power and supplies the necessary power to a reaction catalyst part when a direct methanol fuel cell is operated; a concentration sensing part which is installed in a methanol pipeline or reservoir and comprises carbon nanotubes as a sensor for detecting a methanol concentration; a driving part which drives an operation of the concentration sensing part if supplied with power from the power part; a small signal amplifier which amplifies micro signals output from the concentration sensing part; a methanol concentration judgement part which compares a reference value with a methanol concentration in a direct methanol fuel cell by a detection signal transmitted from the small signal amplifier and judges the state or replenishment time; an amplifier which amplifies the signal detected in the methanol concentration judgement part into a predetermined level; and a display part which displays the signal output from the methanol concentration judgement part as the information on a concentration or replenishment time of methanol in lettering or in a different way.