Low-Cost High-Performance SnO<sub>2</sub>–Cu Electrodes for Use in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells
The high cost of Pt-based electrode materials limits the commercialization of fuel cells and their subsequent application in renewable energy production. It is thus necessary to develop economical, high-performance electrodes alongside biofuels to reduce the pollution associated with the production...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Crystals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/11/1/55 |
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| author | Hany S. Abdo Amit Sarkar Madhu Gupta Suvadra Sahoo Jabair A. Mohammed Sameh A. Ragab Asiful H. Seikh |
| author_facet | Hany S. Abdo Amit Sarkar Madhu Gupta Suvadra Sahoo Jabair A. Mohammed Sameh A. Ragab Asiful H. Seikh |
| author_sort | Hany S. Abdo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The high cost of Pt-based electrode materials limits the commercialization of fuel cells and their subsequent application in renewable energy production. It is thus necessary to develop economical, high-performance electrodes alongside biofuels to reduce the pollution associated with the production of energy. Tin dioxide–copper foil (SnO<sub>2</sub>–Cu) electrode materials are herein developed using an electrodeposition process. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and potentiodynamic polarization methods are used to electrochemically characterize the electrode materials, with the results revealing that their excellent catalytic properties result in them delivering a high current. The surface morphologies of the developed electrodes are examined using scanning electron microscopy, with the results showing that upon an increase in the deposition time, a finer deposit of SnO<sub>2</sub> is formed on the surface of the Cu foil. Consequently, electrochemical oxidation using an enhanced surface area of the material leads to it exhibiting a high current and excellent corrosion resistance. Powder X-ray diffraction was used to confirm the successful depositing of SnO<sub>2</sub> on the surface of Cu. The fuel cell fabricated using the SnO<sub>2</sub>–Cu electrode is promising for use in clean energy generation, as it can be prepared at low cost compared to conventionally used electrodes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:11:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-57938da509254f2999c7f65a99ea9519 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:11:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Crystals |
| spelling | doaj.art-57938da509254f2999c7f65a99ea95192023-12-03T12:48:15ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522021-01-011115510.3390/cryst11010055Low-Cost High-Performance SnO<sub>2</sub>–Cu Electrodes for Use in Direct Ethanol Fuel CellsHany S. Abdo0Amit Sarkar1Madhu Gupta2Suvadra Sahoo3Jabair A. Mohammed4Sameh A. Ragab5Asiful H. Seikh6Center of Excellence for Research in Engineering Materials, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Metallurgical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, IndiaDepartment of Metallurgical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, IndiaMetallurgical and Material Engineering Department, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Sambalpur 8062, IndiaCenter of Excellence for Research in Engineering Materials, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaCenter of Excellence for Research in Engineering Materials, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaCenter of Excellence for Research in Engineering Materials, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaThe high cost of Pt-based electrode materials limits the commercialization of fuel cells and their subsequent application in renewable energy production. It is thus necessary to develop economical, high-performance electrodes alongside biofuels to reduce the pollution associated with the production of energy. Tin dioxide–copper foil (SnO<sub>2</sub>–Cu) electrode materials are herein developed using an electrodeposition process. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and potentiodynamic polarization methods are used to electrochemically characterize the electrode materials, with the results revealing that their excellent catalytic properties result in them delivering a high current. The surface morphologies of the developed electrodes are examined using scanning electron microscopy, with the results showing that upon an increase in the deposition time, a finer deposit of SnO<sub>2</sub> is formed on the surface of the Cu foil. Consequently, electrochemical oxidation using an enhanced surface area of the material leads to it exhibiting a high current and excellent corrosion resistance. Powder X-ray diffraction was used to confirm the successful depositing of SnO<sub>2</sub> on the surface of Cu. The fuel cell fabricated using the SnO<sub>2</sub>–Cu electrode is promising for use in clean energy generation, as it can be prepared at low cost compared to conventionally used electrodes.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/11/1/55electrochemical characterizationhigh energetic electrodescyclic voltammetrychronoamperometryethanol fuel cell |
| spellingShingle | Hany S. Abdo Amit Sarkar Madhu Gupta Suvadra Sahoo Jabair A. Mohammed Sameh A. Ragab Asiful H. Seikh Low-Cost High-Performance SnO<sub>2</sub>–Cu Electrodes for Use in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells Crystals electrochemical characterization high energetic electrodes cyclic voltammetry chronoamperometry ethanol fuel cell |
| title | Low-Cost High-Performance SnO<sub>2</sub>–Cu Electrodes for Use in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells |
| title_full | Low-Cost High-Performance SnO<sub>2</sub>–Cu Electrodes for Use in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells |
| title_fullStr | Low-Cost High-Performance SnO<sub>2</sub>–Cu Electrodes for Use in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low-Cost High-Performance SnO<sub>2</sub>–Cu Electrodes for Use in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells |
| title_short | Low-Cost High-Performance SnO<sub>2</sub>–Cu Electrodes for Use in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells |
| title_sort | low cost high performance sno sub 2 sub cu electrodes for use in direct ethanol fuel cells |
| topic | electrochemical characterization high energetic electrodes cyclic voltammetry chronoamperometry ethanol fuel cell |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/11/1/55 |
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