Electrooxidation study of glycerol on synthesized anode electrocatalysts Pd/C and Pd-Pt/C in a Y-shaped membraneless air-breathing microfluidic fuel cell for power generation

Abstract

Electrocatalytic activity of laboratory-synthesized electrocatalyst Pd-Pt/C and Pd/C were evaluated for glycerol fuel using a Y-shaped membraneless air-breathing microfluidic fuel cell and half cell in alkaline medium. The prepared electrocatalysts were characterized using XRD, SEM and EDX and TEM. The cathode electrode was commercial Pt (40 wt.%)/high surface area advanced carbon (CHiSPEC-4100). Potassium hydroxide was used as the electrolyte. The maximum open circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.88 V and power density 1.6 mW/cm2 at an operating cell voltage of 0.4 V for Pd-Pt/C were obtained at a cell temperature of 307 K. The synthesized Pd/C gives maximum OCV of 0.8 V and maximum power density 1.3 mW/cm2. The commercial Pd/C produced relatively low OCV (0.52 V) and power density (0.49 mW/cm2) in comparison to synthesized Pd-Pt/C and Pd/C electrocatalysts, respectively. The synthesized Pd-Pt/C electrocatalyst produced three times more power density than the commercial Pd/C electrocatalyst.