Review article: Direct ethanol fuel cells as a renewable source of energy

Abstract

An overview is reported about the history of prevailing direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) as a renewable green source of energy. The review disused the important features affecting the electrocatalytic performance of DEFCs. These features include:(1) operating DEFCs in alkaline media, (2) development of a suitable preparation method or technique of the catalyst to achieve more favorable dispersion and smaller particle size, (3) employing high surface area supports, (4) combining the catalyst with another metal, metal oxide, metal carbide or nitride, (5) addition of additives in the coating bath; on.