Copper hexacyanoferrate as cathode material for hydrogen peroxide fuel cell

Abstract

The current need for handheld electronic devices with high energy autonomy has amplified research into clean and mobile energy source developments. Among suitable and promising technologies for this application, fuel cells, FCs are highlighted because of their minimal emission of pollutants and high efficiency. One type of FCs that has yet to be studied is the hydrogen peroxide/direct hydrogen peroxide fuel cell (DPPFCs). The present work is dedicated to the development of DPPFCs of one compartment using copper hexacyanoferrates (CuHCFs) as cathodic material and a Ni grid as anodic material. CuHCFs containing FeII and/or FeIII were synthesized, characterized and their electrocatalyst performances were compared in 0.1 mol L−1 HCl and 0.5 mol L−1 H2O2. The maximum power densities reached for the CuFeII was 8.3 mW cm−2 and for the CuFeIIFeIII was 2.9 mW cm−2. The CuHCFs cathode materials show promising results, standing out as innovative materials for such an application.