| abstract |
A liquid organic fuel cell (10) is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane (18). An organic fuel, such as methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode (14) of the cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode (16). The cell electrolyte membrane is preferably made of NafionTM. Also, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures is provided, wherein a high-surface-area carbon particle/TeflonTM binder structure is immersed within a NafionTM/methanol bath to impregnate the electron with NafionTM. A method of fabricating an anode for this fuel cell is described, wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode from a solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing this acid, and new organic fuels are also described. |