Performance Of Formic Acid Fuel Cell Research Articles

Remarkable activity of a ZnPdPt anode catalyst: Synthesis, characterization, and formic acid fuel cell performance

Herein, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) supported Zn–Pd and Zn–Pd–Pt catalysts have been prepared utilizing a sequential sodium borohydride (SBH) reduction method. The resulting Zn/MWCNT, Zn–Pd/MWCNT, and Zn–Pd–Pt/MWCNT catalysts were characterized using advanced surface analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), high contrast transmission electron microscopy (C-TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The characterization results indicate that the Zn/MWCNT, Zn–Pd/MWCNT, and Zn–Pd–Pt/MWCNT catalysts were successfully prepared. It was observed that Pd and Pt incorporation into Zn alters the electronic structure of Zn. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to examine the electrochemical activity of the catalysts toward the electrooxidation of formic acid (FA). The results reveal that ZnPdPt/MWCNT has a specific activity of 12.6 mA/cm2 and an electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) of 41.1 m2/g. This catalyst shows high activity, stability, and resistance when compared to Pd/MWCNT and ZnPd/MWCNT. Direct FA fuel cell (DFAFC) measurements were performed at 18–60 °C for the ZnPd/MWCNT and ZnPdPt/MWCNT catalysts. The specific activity of ZnPdPt/MWCNT was 1.45 times greater than that measured for ZnPd/MWCNT. ZnPdPt/MWCNT is a promising catalyst according to our CV, CA, EIS, and DFAFC measurements.

Graphene aerogel supported platinum nanoparticles for formic acid electro-oxidation

The performance of the direct formic acid fuel cell largely depends on the quality of the electrocatalysts used in the fuel cells. New materials are of great interest in order to improve the activity and stability of the electrocatalyst used in formic acid electro-oxidation for better direct formic acid fuel cell performance. In this study, different support materials including synthesized graphene aerogel (GA), commercial carbon black (C) or their hybrids(GA/C) were used. Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles were decorated on the defect sites of these materials by using microwave irradiation in order to improve the catalytic activity for formic acid electro-oxidation in acidic media. GA/C hybrid supports are synthesized via simple liquid mechanical mixing approach (GA/C(1)) and through hydrothermal process (GA/C(2)). Synthesized catalysts were called Pt/C, Pt/GA and Pt/GA/C(1) and Pt/GA/C(2). The as-prepared catalysts were characterized with SEM, TEM, XRD and ICP-MS. The SEM results show that GA has a 3D macroporous structure. Electrochemical measurements tests showed that either GA or GA/C material is promising support materials for Pt nanoparticles towards formic acid electro-oxidaiton. The electrochemical test results revealed that the support material affect the activity. Synthesized GA supported catalysts gave better activity than synthesized commercial carbon supported catalyst for oxidation of formic acid. Pt/GA and Pt/GA/C(2) catalysts showed higher tolerance against the poisoning effect of CO and direct pathway dominated the electro-oxidation of formic acid.

Pd[sbnd]Bi bimetallic catalysts including polyvinylpyrrolidone surfactant inducing excellent formic acid oxidation reaction and direct formic acid fuel cell performance

PdBi bimetallic catalysts are synthesized while their catalytic activity and stability for formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) and direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) performance are evaluated. According to investigations, Pd2Bi1/C catalyst including low Pd amount promotes oxygen desorption with enhancement in CO poisoning resistance. With that, indirect formic acid oxidation reaction (IFAOR) and its stability are improved. To further improve the FAOR, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) surfactant is contained due to its amphiphilic property reducing Bi aggregation. To determine optimal amount of the PVP, analysis using TEM and XPS is performed and the results are verified by density functional theory (DFT). According to TEM, in 0.22 PVP-Pd2Bi1/C catalyst, PdBi has small size (∼5 nm) and is well-dispersed with widest Ed- EF of 3.85 eV, proving the catalyst induces effective CO-poisoning resistance and less Bi aggregation. These results are also compatible with trend in FAOR measured by cyclic voltammogram (CV). Even long-term stability, the catalyst maintains catalytic activity well. The best performance of DFAFC using the catalyst (32.7 mW cm−2·Pdg−1) indicates that 0.22 PVP- Pd2Bi1/C is excellent catalyst for FAOR and DFAFC performances.

Photoelectrocatalytic Oxidation of Formic Acid at Titania@Polyoxometalate/Gold Nanocomposite Material Modified Electrode

Amine functionalized silicate sol-gel stabilized titania (P25)-polyoxometalate (PTA)-gold (Au) nanocomposite materials (APS/(P25-PTA-Au)(NCM)) were prepared by a simple chemical reduction method and were used to fabricate modified photoelectrode for the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid. The APS/(P25-PTA-Au)(NCM) photoelectrode showed synergistic photoelectrocatalytic behavior towards the oxidation of formic acid. The photoresponse of the APS/(P25-PTA-Au)(NCM) modified photoelectrode was found to be higher when compared to the controlled photoelectrodes. The present study shows that the loading of Au(nps) on APS/P25-PTA is more beneficial to enhance the photoinduced interfacial charge transfer process, which leads to increased photocurrent generation. The present study concludes that the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid at the APS/(P25-PTA-Au)(NCM) photoelectrode will boost the formic acid fuel cell performance.

탄소성형 Bipolar Plate의 전기화학적 특성과 연료전지 성능 비교

The effect of physico-electrochemical properties of carbon bipolar plate(BPP) on hydrogen and formic acid fuel cell performance has been investigated. BPP made of conventional graphite and carbon fiber composite were compared with the factors of interfacial contact resistance (ICR), corrosion behaviours, and hydrophobicity. Among them, the ICR of carbon fiber composite BPP has 50% higher than conventional graphite and the surface of carbon fiber composite BPP became rougher due to weaker corrosion resistance. Fuel cell performance was strongly dependent of ICR value of carbon bipolar plate.

Methanol conditioning for improved formic acid fuel cell performance

Methanol conditioning for improved formic acid fuel cell performance