Power Generation Characteristics of the Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell Using Silica Containing Carbon Nanofiber as the Anode Supports

Abstract

In order to prepare high Pd containing Pd/SECNF (SiO2 containing carbon nanofiber) catalyst, which showed high formic acid oxidation reaction activity, the effect of the time and frequency on the ultrasonication before the chemical reduction process was investigated. It was found that 45 kHz and 45 min was the optimum condition. Based on this condition, Pd/SECNF containing 80 wt% of Pd was successfully prepared. Using this catalyst for the DFAFC anode, power generation characteristics was investigated. It was found that the performance was similar to the conventional DFAFC using Pd/C for anode catalyst although the catalytic activity of Pd/SECNF was higher than that of Pd/C. This is due to the high anode mass transport resistance in the anode catalyst layer in the case of Pd/SECNF.

Anode Catalyst Development for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell

“…Support material have been roughly classified as carbon-based support and non-carbon-based support [20]. Among non-carbonbased material that attract researchers attention were titania [28][29][30][31], alumina, silica [28], ceria [30], zirconia, tungsten oxide and conducting polymers [20]. Non-carbon support improved the reaction kinetics due to the metal-support interaction, however, their electrical conductivity was lower than that of the carbon support.…”