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A Direct Borohydride/Hydrogen Peroxide Fuel Cell with Reduced Alkali Crossover
Author(s) -
Raman R. K.,
Shukla A. K.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.200600023
Subject(s) - sodium borohydride , anode , nafion , electrolyte , hydrogen peroxide , cathode , direct ethanol fuel cell , borohydride , inorganic chemistry , potassium hydroxide , chemistry , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , aqueous solution , materials science , hydrogen fuel , chemical engineering , hydrogen , electrochemistry , catalysis , organic chemistry , electrode , engineering
A direct borohydride/hydrogen peroxide fuel cell, employing a misch‐metal alloy anode and carbon‐supported lead sulfate (PbSO 4 /C) cathode with a Nafion®‐961 membrane electrolyte, is reported. The use of a Nafion®‐961 membrane electrolyte in the fuel cell lessens the crossover of aqueous sodium hydroxide from the anode to cathode. Initial results indicate that the fuel cell exhibits a maximum power density of 10 mW cm –2 at an operating voltage of 0.77 V with an oxidant utilization of about 80% at 25 °C. The fuel cell also avoids the use of noble‐metal catalysts. The unique combination of sodium borohydride and hydrogen peroxide, both of which are in aqueous from, paves the way for a convenient unitized refueling design that is inherently compact compared to fuel cells that use gaseous reactants. Such a fuel cell is expected to find application in situations where anaerobic conditions prevail, e.g., in submersible and space applications.