A bi-functional cathode structure for alkaline-acid direct ethanol fuel cells

Liang An; T. S. Zhao; J. B. Xu

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.07.025

A bi-functional cathode structure for alkaline-acid direct ethanol fuel cells

Liang An, T. S. Zhao, J. B. Xu

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

69 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An issue associated with the use of hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant in the so-called alkaline-acid direct ethanol fuel cell (AA-DEFC) is the problem of H2O2decomposition, which causes a significant decrease in the cathode potential. The present work addresses this issue by developing a bi-functional cathode structure that is composed of the nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) foam (functioning as the diffusion layer) with a highly dispersed gold particles (functioning as the catalyst layer) deposited onto the skeleton of the foam. This integrated cathode structure allows not only a reduction in H2O2decomposition, but also an enhancement in the species transport in the cathode of the AA-DEFC. The fuel cell performance characterization shows that the use of the bi-functional cathode structure in the AA-DEFC enables the peak power density to be increased to 200 mW cm-2from 135 mW cm-2resulting from the use of the conventional cathode.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	13089-13095
Number of pages	7
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	36
Issue number	20
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.07.025
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2011
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Alkaline-acid direct ethanol fuel cell
Bi-functional structure
Fuel cell
Hydrogen peroxide decomposition
Impregnation-reduction method
Nickel-chromium foam

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Fuel Technology
Condensed Matter Physics
Energy Engineering and Power Technology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.07.025

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title = "A bi-functional cathode structure for alkaline-acid direct ethanol fuel cells",

abstract = "An issue associated with the use of hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant in the so-called alkaline-acid direct ethanol fuel cell (AA-DEFC) is the problem of H2O2decomposition, which causes a significant decrease in the cathode potential. The present work addresses this issue by developing a bi-functional cathode structure that is composed of the nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) foam (functioning as the diffusion layer) with a highly dispersed gold particles (functioning as the catalyst layer) deposited onto the skeleton of the foam. This integrated cathode structure allows not only a reduction in H2O2decomposition, but also an enhancement in the species transport in the cathode of the AA-DEFC. The fuel cell performance characterization shows that the use of the bi-functional cathode structure in the AA-DEFC enables the peak power density to be increased to 200 mW cm-2from 135 mW cm-2resulting from the use of the conventional cathode.",

keywords = "Alkaline-acid direct ethanol fuel cell, Bi-functional structure, Fuel cell, Hydrogen peroxide decomposition, Impregnation-reduction method, Nickel-chromium foam",

author = "Liang An and Zhao, {T. S.} and Xu, {J. B.}",

note = "The work described in this paper was fully supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. 623010).",

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AU - Zhao, T. S.

AU - Xu, J. B.

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PY - 2011/10/1

Y1 - 2011/10/1

N2 - An issue associated with the use of hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant in the so-called alkaline-acid direct ethanol fuel cell (AA-DEFC) is the problem of H2O2decomposition, which causes a significant decrease in the cathode potential. The present work addresses this issue by developing a bi-functional cathode structure that is composed of the nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) foam (functioning as the diffusion layer) with a highly dispersed gold particles (functioning as the catalyst layer) deposited onto the skeleton of the foam. This integrated cathode structure allows not only a reduction in H2O2decomposition, but also an enhancement in the species transport in the cathode of the AA-DEFC. The fuel cell performance characterization shows that the use of the bi-functional cathode structure in the AA-DEFC enables the peak power density to be increased to 200 mW cm-2from 135 mW cm-2resulting from the use of the conventional cathode.

AB - An issue associated with the use of hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant in the so-called alkaline-acid direct ethanol fuel cell (AA-DEFC) is the problem of H2O2decomposition, which causes a significant decrease in the cathode potential. The present work addresses this issue by developing a bi-functional cathode structure that is composed of the nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) foam (functioning as the diffusion layer) with a highly dispersed gold particles (functioning as the catalyst layer) deposited onto the skeleton of the foam. This integrated cathode structure allows not only a reduction in H2O2decomposition, but also an enhancement in the species transport in the cathode of the AA-DEFC. The fuel cell performance characterization shows that the use of the bi-functional cathode structure in the AA-DEFC enables the peak power density to be increased to 200 mW cm-2from 135 mW cm-2resulting from the use of the conventional cathode.

KW - Alkaline-acid direct ethanol fuel cell

KW - Bi-functional structure

KW - Fuel cell

KW - Hydrogen peroxide decomposition

KW - Impregnation-reduction method

KW - Nickel-chromium foam

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DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.07.025

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JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

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A bi-functional cathode structure for alkaline-acid direct ethanol fuel cells

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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