Abstract
Fuel cells offer an enabling alternative energy technology for the present day useful energy crisis. However, one of the major obstacles of fuel cells in powering motor vehicles is the enormous cost associated with the catalysts used in both half-reactions which are Pt and Pt-Rh, respectively, for the anodic and cathodic half-reactions. Among several strategies put forward to reduce the cost of fuel cells, lowering of the amount of platinum used and replacing highly expensive platinum by low-cost catalysts are two major approaches to realize the development of fuel cellpowered motor vehicles. We have been pioneered in developing such low-cost catalysts for the difficult half-reaction, viz., the oxygen reduction half reaction of the fuel cells. We present here the development and the activity of Ag/ Polypyrrole/Montmorillonite Clay catalyst which performs equally to expensive Pt-Rh catalyst used for the oxygen reduction half-reaction of fuel cells. We show that this catalyst functions very similar to highly expensive Pt-Rh catalyst and hence the former can be conveniently substituted for the latter in practical applications.
Highlights
Fuel cellis a devices capable of converting chemical energy change of a net chemical reaction, caused by the oxidation half reaction of a fuel that is taking place at the anode, and the reduction half reaction of oxygen that is taking place at the cathode, (-ΔGreaction), to electrical energy
Since the reactants of fuel cells at both electrodes are supplied externally, fuel cells produce very stable voltages, with time, since there is no depletion of reactants due to operation because they are continuously replenished by the external supply
Honda Corporation has already debuted hydrogen fuel cell-powered FCV Concept at Detroit auto show [1], Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Car will be in market by 2016 [2] and Mercedes Benz already produces F-Cell motor cars which are fuelled by hydrogen gas using a fuel pump [3]
Summary
Fuel cellis a devices capable of converting chemical energy change of a net chemical reaction, caused by the oxidation half reaction of a fuel that is taking place at the anode, and the reduction half reaction of oxygen that is taking place at the cathode, (-ΔGreaction), to electrical energy (nFEcell). There are several different types of fuel cells, such as Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell, Alkaline Fuel Cell, Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell, Direct Methanol Fuel Cell, Ceramic Fuel Cell and so on, the cathodic or reduction half reaction of all these fuel cells involve oxygen reduction. Fuel cells have the potential to replace the internal-combustion engine in vehicles and to provide power in stationary and portable power applications because they are energy-efficient, clean, and fuel-flexible. They are alternative power sources for remote stations and places where grid supply is not available. Honda Corporation has already debuted hydrogen fuel cell-powered FCV Concept at Detroit auto show [1], Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Car will be in market by 2016 [2] and Mercedes Benz already produces F-Cell motor cars which are fuelled by hydrogen gas using a fuel pump [3]
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