Boosting DMFC power output by adding sulfuric acid as a supporting electrolyte: Effect on cell performance equipped with platinum and platinum group metal-free cathodes

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are promising electrochemical systems capable of producing electricity from the electrochemical oxidation of methanol and the reduction of oxygen. In this work, the effectiveness of the addition of sulfuric acid as a supporting electrolyte for methanol fuel composition was assessed. The results showed that the peak of power curve in DMFCs with Pt/C cathode electrocatalysts increased progressively from 70 mW cm−2 (0 mM of H2SO4) to 115 mW cm−2 with a concentration of 100 mM of H2SO4. These results underlined the positive effect of the addition of a supporting electrolyte in the methanol aqueous solution on the electrochemical output that was enhanced. Plati…