Generation of Pure Hydrogen by the Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Methane-Derived Liquid Fuels in a PEM Electrolysis Cell

The electrocatalytic oxidation of dimethoxymethane (DMM), to produce clean hydrogen, was carried out at the Pt-Ru anode of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell hardware at several concentrations and different temperatures. At given concentrations of DMM (0.1 to 4 M) and cell temperatures (25 to 85°C) the quantity of produced hydrogen and the voltage of the electrolysis cell were recorded as a function of time for any current intensity used (from 5 to 800 mA). The cell voltage stabilizes after 15 min and never exceeds 0.50 V corresponding to electrical energy consumption lower than 1.1 kWh (Nm3)-1. The quantity of hydrogen produced is a linear function of the current density and of the electrolysis time, i.e. of the quantity of electricity consumed in the electro-oxidation reaction. Moreover the quantity of hydrogen produced at a given electrolysis time is independent of the DMM concentration, the cell voltage and its temperature.