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A high performance polymer electrolyte thermogalvanic cell, which converts thermal energy to electrical energy directly, is transformed from a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The transform is realized by connecting the anode and cathode chamber with a gas tube and filling hydrogen to both chambers. Provided a heat flux through the cell, hydrogen is consumed in the cold side and regenerated in the hot side while circulating in two chambers during operation. The Seebeck coefficient is 0.531 mV K −1 at a cold side temperature of 60.0 °C and the maximum power density could reach up to 20 μW cm −2 with a temperature difference of 15.3 °C between two electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present study, a method based on transmission-line mode for a porous electrode was used to measure the ionic resistance of the anode catalyst layer under in situ fuel cell operation condition. The influence of Nafion content and catalyst loading in the anode catalyst layer on the methanol electro-oxidation and direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) performance based on unsupported Pt–Ru black was investigated by using the AC impedance method. The optimal Nafion content was found to be 15wt% at C. The optimal Pt–Ru loading is related to the operating temperature, for example, about 2.0mg/cm for C, 3.0mg/cm for C. Over these values, the cell performance decreased due to the increases in ohmic and mass transfer resistances. It was found that the peak power density obtained was 217mW/cm with optimal catalyst and Nafion loading at C using oxygen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]