A Direct Borohydride/Hydrogen Peroxide Fuel Cell with Reduced Alkali Crossover

✍ Scribed by R. K. Raman; A. K. Shukla

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 281 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1615-6846
• DOI: 10.1002/fuce.200600023

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

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.