Performance of a hybrid direct ethylene glycol fuel cell

Abstract

Summary In this work, a hybrid fuel cell is developed and tested, which is composed of an alkaline anode, an acid cathode, and a cation exchange membrane. In this fuel cell, ethylene glycol and hydrogen peroxide serve as fuel and oxidant, respectively. Theoretically, this fuel cell exhibits a theoretical voltage reaching 2.47 V, whereas it is experimentally demonstrated that the hybrid fuel cell delivers an open‐circuit voltage of 1.41 V at 60°C. More impressively, this fuel cell yields a peak power density of 80.9 mW cm−2 (115.3 mW cm−2 at 80°C). Comparing to an open‐circuit voltage of 0.86 V and a peak power density of 67 mW cm−2 previously achieved by a direct ethylene glycol fuel cell operating with oxygen, this hybrid direct ethylene glycol fuel cell boosts the open‐circuit voltage by 62.1% and the peak power density by 20.8%. This significant improvement is mainly attributed not only to the high‐voltage output of this hybrid system design but also to the faster kinetics rendered by the reduction reaction of hydrogen peroxide.

Performance characteristics of a passive direct ethylene glycol fuel cell with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant

“…Although the practical voltage is as high as 1.58 V, it is still far below the theoretical voltage (2.47 V). A general explanation was proposed by Pan et al [33]. As the H2O2 can be either reduced or oxidized, a hydrogen peroxide-based fuel cell will be spontaneously established in the cathode, resulting in the mixed potential.…”

“…There are three intrinsic superiorities by using hydrogen peroxide: (1) the theoretical voltage will experience a substantial increase; (2) comparing to the four-electron transfer process of ORR, only two electrons are transferred in the hydrogen peroxide reduction reaction (HPRR), which reduces the activation loss; and (3) the water flooding will be avoided due to the aqueous state of hydrogen peroxide [32]. Pan et al [33] designed and tested an active DEGFC using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. Comparing to the DEGFC using oxygen as oxidant, the cell performance is elevated significantly.…”

Enhanced performance of methanol oxidation reaction via green synthesis of platinum electro‐catalyst from sugar cane bagasse

“…The fabrication of Pt NPs with various morphologies and structures is widely accomplished via conventional physical and chemical methods 8,9 . These include polyol, thermal evaporation, hydrothermal, chemical reduction, solvothermal, sonochemistry, electrospinning, electrodeposition, microemulsion, pulsed laser ablation, and microwave‐mediated synthesis methods 10 .…”

A non‐precious metal ascorbate fuel cell

“…Pan et al, enhanced the performance of ethylene glycol oxidation in a split pH DLFC yielding a maximum power density of 115 mW cm −2 at 80°C. 36 Recently, Chino et al, optimized the performance of 1,3‐propanediol and 1,2‐propanediol in a split pH DLFC with a maximum power density of 185 and 102 mW cm −2 , respectively 37 …”