Improving the Energy Efficiency of Direct Formate Fuel Cells with a Pd/C-CeO2 Anode Catalyst and Anion Exchange Ionomer in the Catalyst Layer
This article describes the development of a high power density Direct Formate Fuel Cell (DFFC) fed with potassium formate (KCOOH). The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) contains no platinum metal. The cathode catalyst is FeCo/C combined with a commercial anion exchange membrane (AEM). To enhance the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-02-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/369 |
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| author | Hamish Andrew Miller Jacopo Ruggeri Andrea Marchionni Marco Bellini Maria Vincenza Pagliaro Carlo Bartoli Andrea Pucci Elisa Passaglia Francesco Vizza |
| author_facet | Hamish Andrew Miller Jacopo Ruggeri Andrea Marchionni Marco Bellini Maria Vincenza Pagliaro Carlo Bartoli Andrea Pucci Elisa Passaglia Francesco Vizza |
| author_sort | Hamish Andrew Miller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article describes the development of a high power density Direct Formate Fuel Cell (DFFC) fed with potassium formate (KCOOH). The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) contains no platinum metal. The cathode catalyst is FeCo/C combined with a commercial anion exchange membrane (AEM). To enhance the power output and energy efficiency we have employed a nanostructured Pd/C-CeO2 anode catalyst. The activity for the formate oxidation reaction (FOR) is enhanced when compared to a Pd/C catalyst with the same Pd loading. Fuel cell tests at 60 °C show a peak power density of almost 250 mW cm−2. The discharge energy (14 kJ), faradic efficiency (89%) and energy efficiency (46%) were determined for a single fuel charge (30 mL of 4 M KCOOH and 4 M KOH). Energy analysis demonstrates that removal of the expensive KOH electrolyte is essential for the future development of these devices. To compensate we apply for the first time a polymeric ionomer in the catalyst layer of the anode electrode. A homopolymer is synthesized by the radical polymerization of vinyl benzene chloride followed by amination with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO). The energy delivered, energy efficiency and fuel consumption efficiency of DFFCs fed with 4 M KCOOH are doubled with the use of the ionomer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:02:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-958ce9b24fbd4a85884d1aabe9a12bc6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:02:33Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-958ce9b24fbd4a85884d1aabe9a12bc62022-12-22T02:21:22ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732018-02-0111236910.3390/en11020369en11020369Improving the Energy Efficiency of Direct Formate Fuel Cells with a Pd/C-CeO2 Anode Catalyst and Anion Exchange Ionomer in the Catalyst LayerHamish Andrew Miller0Jacopo Ruggeri1Andrea Marchionni2Marco Bellini3Maria Vincenza Pagliaro4Carlo Bartoli5Andrea Pucci6Elisa Passaglia7Francesco Vizza8Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, ItalyIstituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, ItalyIstituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, ItalyIstituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, ItalyIstituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, ItalyIstituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, ItalyIstituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Area della Ricerca, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, ItalyIstituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, ItalyThis article describes the development of a high power density Direct Formate Fuel Cell (DFFC) fed with potassium formate (KCOOH). The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) contains no platinum metal. The cathode catalyst is FeCo/C combined with a commercial anion exchange membrane (AEM). To enhance the power output and energy efficiency we have employed a nanostructured Pd/C-CeO2 anode catalyst. The activity for the formate oxidation reaction (FOR) is enhanced when compared to a Pd/C catalyst with the same Pd loading. Fuel cell tests at 60 °C show a peak power density of almost 250 mW cm−2. The discharge energy (14 kJ), faradic efficiency (89%) and energy efficiency (46%) were determined for a single fuel charge (30 mL of 4 M KCOOH and 4 M KOH). Energy analysis demonstrates that removal of the expensive KOH electrolyte is essential for the future development of these devices. To compensate we apply for the first time a polymeric ionomer in the catalyst layer of the anode electrode. A homopolymer is synthesized by the radical polymerization of vinyl benzene chloride followed by amination with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO). The energy delivered, energy efficiency and fuel consumption efficiency of DFFCs fed with 4 M KCOOH are doubled with the use of the ionomer.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/369direct alcohol fuel cellsformatealkaline membranepalladiumceriaionomerenergy efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Hamish Andrew Miller Jacopo Ruggeri Andrea Marchionni Marco Bellini Maria Vincenza Pagliaro Carlo Bartoli Andrea Pucci Elisa Passaglia Francesco Vizza Improving the Energy Efficiency of Direct Formate Fuel Cells with a Pd/C-CeO2 Anode Catalyst and Anion Exchange Ionomer in the Catalyst Layer Energies direct alcohol fuel cells formate alkaline membrane palladium ceria ionomer energy efficiency |
| title | Improving the Energy Efficiency of Direct Formate Fuel Cells with a Pd/C-CeO2 Anode Catalyst and Anion Exchange Ionomer in the Catalyst Layer |
| title_full | Improving the Energy Efficiency of Direct Formate Fuel Cells with a Pd/C-CeO2 Anode Catalyst and Anion Exchange Ionomer in the Catalyst Layer |
| title_fullStr | Improving the Energy Efficiency of Direct Formate Fuel Cells with a Pd/C-CeO2 Anode Catalyst and Anion Exchange Ionomer in the Catalyst Layer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving the Energy Efficiency of Direct Formate Fuel Cells with a Pd/C-CeO2 Anode Catalyst and Anion Exchange Ionomer in the Catalyst Layer |
| title_short | Improving the Energy Efficiency of Direct Formate Fuel Cells with a Pd/C-CeO2 Anode Catalyst and Anion Exchange Ionomer in the Catalyst Layer |
| title_sort | improving the energy efficiency of direct formate fuel cells with a pd c ceo2 anode catalyst and anion exchange ionomer in the catalyst layer |
| topic | direct alcohol fuel cells formate alkaline membrane palladium ceria ionomer energy efficiency |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/369 |
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