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Energy Efficiency of Alkaline Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells Employing Nanostructured Palladium Electrocatalysts
Author(s) -
Wang Lianqin,
Lavacchi Alessandro,
Bevilacqua Manuela,
Bellini Marco,
Fornasiero Paolo,
Filippi Jonathan,
Innocenti Massimo,
Marchionni Andrea,
Miller Hamish Andrew,
Vizza Francesco
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201500189
Subject(s) - direct ethanol fuel cell , palladium , anode , electrolyte , cathode , alkaline fuel cell , chemical engineering , power density , chemistry , materials science , inorganic chemistry , membrane , electrode , catalysis , organic chemistry , power (physics) , physics , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , engineering
Carbon supported nanostructured palladium or palladium alloys are considered the best performing anode electrocatalysts currently employed in alkaline electrolyte membrane direct ethanol fuel cells (AEM‐DEFCs). High initial peak power densities are generally obtained as Pd preferentially favors the selective oxidation of ethanol forming acetate thus avoiding strongly poisoning intermediates such as CO. However, few studies exist that investigate DEFC performance in terms of both energy efficiency and discharge energy density, as well as power density depending on the concentration of fuel. In this paper we have determined such parameters for room temperature air breathing AEM‐DEFCs equipped with Pd based anodes, anion exchange membranes and FeCo/C cathode electrocatalysts. Combined with the optimization of the fuel composition a maximum energy efficiency of ≈7 % was obtained for this AEM‐DEFC. Such a performance suggests that devices of this type are suitable for supplying low power applications such as small portable electronic devices.