METHODS OF CONDITIONING DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLS

摘要

Methods for conditioning the membrane electrode assembly (10) of a direct methanol fuel cell ("DMFC") are disclosed. In a first method, an electrical current of polarity opposite to that used in a functioning direct methanol fuel cell is passed through the anode surface (30) of the membrane electrode assembly (10) . In a second method, methanol (24) is supplied to an anode surface (30) of the membrane electrode assembly (10), allowed to cross over the polymer electrolyte membrane (40) of the membrane electrode assembly (10) to a cathode surface (20) of the membrane electrode assembly (10), and an electrical current of polarity opposite to that in a functioning direct methanol fuel cell is drawn through the membrane electrode assembly (10) while the catalyst on the anode surface (30) is reduced. Surface oxides on the direct methanol fuel cell anode catalyst of the membrane electrode assembly (10) are thereby reduced.