Performance comparison of Pt–Au/C and Pt–Bi/C anode catalysts in batch and continuous direct glucose alkaline fuel cell

Abstract

To study the performance of two different anode catalysts, e.g., Pt–Au/C and Pt–Bi/C, at low metal loadings in batch and continuous type direct glucose fuel cell (DGFC), the metal catalysts were prepared and physical and electro-chemical characterizations were carried out. A continuous DGFC based on anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyte with Pt–Bi/C or Pt–Au/C as anode and Pt/C as cathode resulted in higher power densities than that of batch type DGFC with alkaline (KOH) electrolyte. The DGFC operated at ambient temperature (30°C) with Pt–Bi/C anode produced higher maximum power density (MPD) (4.8mWcm−2) compared to Pt–Au/C anode (MPD=2.44mWcm−2) with anode and cathode feed 4mlmin−1 of 0.2M glucose and 16 SCCM oxygen at 1bar.