Investigation of the Performance ofAucore-Pdshell/C as the Anode Catalyst of Direct Borohydride-Hydrogen Peroxide Fuel Cell

Hong Wang,Wei Yi,Xue Liu,Ying Wang,Lanhua Yi,Xianyou Wang,Peiying He

doi:10.4061/2011/129182

Abstract

The carbon-supported bimetallic Au-Pd catalyst with core-shell structure is prepared by successive reduction method. The core-shell structure, surface morphology, and electrochemical performances of the catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrometry, linear sweep voltammetry, and chronopotentiometry. The results show that the Au-Pd/C catalyst with core-shell structure exhibits much higher catalytic activity for the direct oxidation of NaBH4than pure Au/C catalyst. A direct borohydride-hydrogen peroxide fuel cell, in which the Au-Pd/C with core-shell structure is used as the anode catalyst and the Au/C as the cathode catalyst, shows as high as 68.215 mW cm−2power density.

Highlights

Fuel cells constitute an attractive class of renewable and sustainable energy sources alternative to conventional energy sources such as petroleum that has finite reserves
The direct borohydride-hydrogen peroxide fuel cell (DBHFC) is comprised of BH4− oxidation at the anode and H2O2 reduction at the cathode; it can be used as a promising power source for space and underwater applications
The improvement of catalytic activity of core-shell bimetallic nanoparticles is attributed to the unique structure in electrocatalysis, which has gained much attention in recent years [14]

Summary

Introduction

Fuel cells constitute an attractive class of renewable and sustainable energy sources alternative to conventional energy sources such as petroleum that has finite reserves. The catalyst, which causes the low activity towards BH4− hydrolysis, simultaneously has a low catalytic activity towards BH4− electrochemical oxidation reaction. It is very important for DBHFC application to develop high-activity electrocatalysts for the borohydride oxidation reaction (BOR). The core-shell structure is an effective morphology to enhance catalytic activity. The improvement of catalytic activity of core-shell bimetallic nanoparticles is attributed to the unique structure in electrocatalysis, which has gained much attention in recent years [14]. It is reported that the core-shell nanoparticle catalysts such as Ni@Pd/MWCNTs [16] and Ptshell-Aucore/C [17] have effectively enhanced the catalytic activity for the electrooxidation of methanol. The electrochemical performances for the borohydride oxidation reaction were examined by linear voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry, and fuel-cell performance measurement

Experimental

Results and Discussion

Conclusions