🎉 Fun Introduction: Imagine having a pocket-sized power source more efficient than your phone's battery! That's the promise of Direct-methanol fuel cells.

• Uses methanol (a liquid fuel) as a source of hydrogen ions (H⁺) instead of hydrogen gas.
• Advantage: Methanol can be made from renewable resources (think: fermentation, like brewing beer! 🍺).
• Green Bonus: Producing methanol is cleaner for the planet - fewer greenhouse gases compared to hydrogen production.

💡 Real-world example: Think of methanol as a "greener" fuel, like opting for a reusable straw over a plastic one.

• Energy density = Energy per unit volume.
• Methanol has a much greater energy density than hydrogen gas.
• This means you get more bang for your buck with methanol. 💥

💡 Real-world example: Imagine a tiny battery powering an entire city! That's energy density for you.

Anode Reaction
CH₃OH(aq) + H₂O(l) → CO₂(g) + 6H⁺(aq) + 6e⁻

Cathode Reaction
1.5 O₂(g) + 6H⁺(aq) + 6e⁻ → 3H₂O(l)

Overall Reaction
CH₃OH(aq) + 1.5 O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + 2H₂O(l)

💡 Did you know? The reaction produces carbon dioxide, which is the same gas we exhale when we breathe!