Formic Acid Fuel Cells Research Articles

Effect of the Membrane Thickness on the Over-Potential Behavior of the Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell

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Increase Porosity of Anodes in Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

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Pd-based Bimetallic Catalysts for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

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Effect of Different Types of Microporous Layer Toward the Performance of Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell

Typical electrodes of anode and cathode are supported on macroporous backing layer with additional microporous carbon layer. The effect of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) on the cell performance in a direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) has been characterized. The performance of DFAFC might be hindered by mass transfer limitation due to hydrophilicity properties of the formic acid. By measuring the contact angle and SEM photograph, the physicochemical and surface morphology of different types of GDL can be classified. Meanwhile, the effects of carbon materials such as carbon black, carbon nanofibre and carbon nanotube as a microporous layer on the backing layer of carbon paper were investigated on the basis of the characterization and the performance. From the results, it was obtained that CNF was a good material as microporous layer due to the properties of in plane conductivity, high current in cyclic voltammetry and also had smoother surface on the morphology test.

Effect of the Membrane Thickness on the Over-Potential Behavior of the Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell

The power generation characteristics of the DFAFC having different membrane, Nafion 117, Nafion 115 and NR 212 were investigated by measuring the over-potentials of the anode and the cathode, individually. The highest performance was obtained when NR 212 was used since the ohmic resistance and the anode over potential of NR 212 was lower that of Nafion 115 and Nafion 117. From the over-potential measurements, it was found that the anode over-potential increased with increasing the membrane thickness. From these results, it is considered that the NR 212 is suitable as the electrolyte membrane of the DFAFC.

Pd-based Bimetallic Catalysts for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

Pd-M (M = Cu and Ni) bimetallic catalysts (films and core-shell nanoparticles) were studied by examining the effect of electronic structural perturbation on the electrochemical activity of the Pd surface toward formic acid oxidation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) are used to obtain the valence band spectra and d-band center shifts and electrochemical activities of the catalysts. XPS analysis indicates a charge transfer from Pd to the transition metals. This electronic perturbation results in an alteration of the interaction between the intermediate species and the Pd surface. As a result, an increase in current density and an improvement in stability of formic acid electrochemical oxidation are observed for the Pd-based bimetallic system compared to pure Pd.

Technological barriers and research trends in fuel cell technologies: A citation network analysis

Fuel cell technologies have long been recognized as one of the most promising future energy solutions. Nevertheless, major technological barriers hinder the potential realization of this clean energy source. Citation network analysis methodology is used here to identify major research trends, critical technological issues, and proposed resolutions to raise the effectiveness of investment of R&D resources in fuel cell technology development. The main path analyses identify two research streams for the Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) and Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) technologies. Analyses of cited publications show that most of the technological barriers for PEMFC have been addressed and that performance has reached an acceptable level. On the other hand, DMFC still suffers from methanol and water crossover problems. Multiple main path analysis identifies specific research groups working on technological problems in DMFC. The Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell (DFAFC) and Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell (DEFC) have recently emerged to address the toxicity of methanol, while DMFC performance is being enhanced through research on porous carbon plates, water transportation, and methanol concentrations, and the research group at Micro DMFC is applying fuel cells in electronics devices. Despite considerable research on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), its research stream does not appear in the main paths, most likely because of a broad divergence in research subjects. Growth curve analysis forecasts that fuel cell research is in the growth stage and will enter maturity in 2018. Although emerging technologies show advantages in performance and cost, the findings presented here can raise the effectiveness of critical research project selection, thus increasing the likelihood of success.

Electrochemical Analysis of the Performance of Carbon Supported Pd Nanoparticles for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells: From Gold Supported Electrodes to Catalyst-Coated Membranes

Electrochemical Analysis of the Performance of Carbon Supported Pd Nanoparticles for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells: From Gold Supported Electrodes to Catalyst-Coated Membranes

Development of High Performance Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell Using Hyper Branched Polymer as a Catalyst Stabilizer

A hyperbranched polymer was used as a catalyst stabilizer for use in a direct formic acid fuel cell, DFAFC, to obtain a high performance with a low catalyst loading. The catalyst ink was prepared by the mixing of Pd nanoparticles stabilized by a hyper branched polymer (H-Pd) and carbon black, which was then calcinated at 300 oC and 500 oC in flowing nitrogen to investigate the effect of the stabilizer residual on the catalytic activity for the formic acid oxidation. It was found that the catalytic activity of the H-Pd was 6 times higher than that of Pd black with a 500 oC calcination. In this condition, a cluster of Pd nanoparticles was observed. By using this catalyst as an anode catalyst of the DFAFC, a 6 times higher power density could be obtained compared to the case using Pd black.

Spontaneously Bi decorated carbon supported Pt nanoparticles for formic acid electro-oxidation

This work presents carbon supported Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles decorated with a submonolayer of Bismuth (Bi) to enhance the anodic electro-oxidation efficiency for a Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell (DFAFC). The coverage of Bi adatoms, as measured by cyclic voltammetry was controlled in the range of 15–75%. This ex situ study of the Bi decorated Pt/C catalysts was done using a three electrode electrochemical cell at room temperature to access formic acid electro-oxidation performance and durability. Two commercial Pt/C catalysts were investigated of varying average size: 2.4nm and 3.4nm. An optimal Bi coverage was observed to be 54% coverage or greater for both catalyst sizes, resulting in a favorable decrease in the formic acid onset potential by greater than 0.1V. The 3.4nm catalyst demonstrated higher performance over that of 2.4nm, with a 23-fold current density increase at 0.2V vs. RHE. The results indicate that Bi decorated Pt nanoparticles have excellent electrochemical properties for the electro-oxidation of formic acid (high electro-catalytic activity and excellent stability) due to a combination of the electronic effect and third-body effect, thereby promoting the non-poisoning direct electro-oxidation reaction pathway. Based on position of CO stripping peak for 15% Bi coverage, Pt–COads bond strength decreased for 3.4nm Pt/C whereas no shift was observed in the Pt–COads bond strength for 2.4nm Pt/C. Chronoamperometry results show much better long-term electro-catalytic activity for Bi decorated Pt nanoparticles.

New Generation of Metal-based Composite Electrode Materials for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell

Conducting polymer-metal composites have attracted much attention due to their novel properties, which are different from those of pure conducting polymers and metals. They are more welcomed for better economic and ecofriendly properties, because of the homogenous dispersion and decreased dosage of noble metal particles inside the conducting polymer matrix. The conducting polymer-metal composites have also been proved to exhibit better catalytic performance than that of the bulk metal electrodes. In this short review, a series of conducting polymer-metal composite catalysts have been evaluated on their electrocatalytic performance for formic acid oxidation. It is proposed that the enhanced performance may be due to the synergies between metal particles (Pt, Pt-M) and conducting polymer. Keywords: Poly(o-methoxyaniline), Polycarbazole, Polyindoles, Composite catalyst, Metal nanoparticles, Electro-oxidation, Formic acid

Durability of Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Supported Pt Particles as Catalysts for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

Durability of Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Supported Pt Particles as Catalysts for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

DNA‐Functionalized Graphene to Guide Growth of Highly Active Pd Nanocrystals as Efficient Electrocatalyst for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

DNA‐Functionalized Graphene to Guide Growth of Highly Active Pd Nanocrystals as Efficient Electrocatalyst for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

Performance Enhancement by Adaptation of Long Term Chronoamperometry in Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell using Palladium Anode Catalyst

In the present study, we suggest a new way to reactivate performance of direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) and explain its mechanism by employing electrochemical analyses like chronoamperometry (CA) and cyclic voltammogram (CV). For the evaluation of DFAFC performance, palladium (Pd) and platinum (Pt) are used as anode and cathode catalysts, respectively, and are applied to a Nafion membrane by catalyst-coated membrane spraying. After long DFAFC operation performed at 0.2 and 0.4 V and then CV test, DFAFC performance is better than its initial performance. It is attributed to dissolution of anode Pd into . By characterizations like TEM, Z-potential, CV and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, it is evaluated that such dissolved ions lead to (1) increase in the electrochemically active surface by reduction in Pd particle size and its improved redistribution and (2) increment in the total oxidation charge by fast reaction rate of the Pd dissolution reaction.

Development of High Performance Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell Using Hyper Branched Polymer as a Catalyst Stabilizer

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Catalysts for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

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Overview on Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells (DFAFCs) as an Energy Sources

Direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs) are one of the potential power sources for requirement of portable devices is rapidly growing. This paper is a review on DFAFC as a energy sources. Dual path mechanism in DFAFC involves dehydrogenation and dehydration. Dehydration reaction will produce carbon monoxide (CO) as intermediate product. Palladium, Pd-black catalysts is found as solution to reduce the production of CO. The open circuit potential, OCP for DFAFC is quite high which is 0.72V. Besides the high OCP, the decreasing of the cell performance is also investigated. The mass transport constraint and water management have been discussed.

Graphene-Supported Pt–Au Alloy Nanoparticles: A Highly Efficient Anode for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

Graphene-supported Pt and Pt–Au alloy electrocatalysts are prepared by ethylene glycol reduction method and characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmiss...

Effect of Nafion Ionomer and Catalyst in Cathode Layers for the Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell with Complex Capacitance Analysis on the Ionic Resistance

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Degradation Characteristics and Its Improvement in the Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell (DFAFC)

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