Expanded graphite as an electrode material for an alcohol fuel cell

Abstract

An efficient graphite electrode has been developed using expanded graphite as the starting material. A graphite plate has been expanded by doping with potassium vapour using a vapour incorporation technique developed at our laboratory. The extent of expansion of the electrode plate is about 20% of its initial thickness. These expanded graphite electrodes have been platinized by an electrodeposition method. The electrocatalytic activity of platinized expanded graphite has been examined, and the discharge profile of a conventional laboratory model fuel cell comprising a platinized Pt air cathode, expanded platinized graphite anode and sulphuric acid (2 M) as electrolyte has been measured. Analysis of the electrochemical parameters of the laboratory model cell clearly indicates that the expanded Pt graphite electrode shows better electrochemical behaviour towards methanol (1 M), ethanol (1 M) and propanol (1 M) oxidation than that of unexpanded graphite electrodes. The results are explained in terms of efficient electrocatalytic activity of the nano channel formed after the expansion. These electrodes are expected to have promising applications in fuel cells.