Electricity generation from a refuelable glucose alkaline fuel cell with a methyl viologen-immobilized activated carbon anode

Abstract

A refuelable glucose alkaline fuel cell (AFC) is constructed by immobilizing methyl viologen (MV) on an activated carbon-nickel foam (AC/Ni) anode. The AFC exhibits a peak power density of 23.58±0.83Wm−2 at room temperature, which is more than 3 folds than that of non-immobilized control. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) investigations demonstrate that the internal resistance of the anode is remarkably decreased after MV immobilization. Surface morphology and composition of the anodes are characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Spectroscopic studies indicate that the immobilized MV is stable at alkaline conditions. The AFC is discharged through a 100Ω external resistor for 628hours and a specific capacity of 244.01mAhg−1 is obtained. Furthermore, the ability to refuel of the fuel cell is tested through multiple refuelling cycles. The refuelable glucose AFCs may provide a new realm to use carbohydrate as feedstocks for portable power sources and create an affordable pathway to renewable power.