Boosting the performance of formic acid microfluidic fuel cell: Oxygen annealing enhanced Pd@graphene electrocatalyst. (29th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Dawei; Xu, Hong; Zhang, Li; Leung, Dennis Y.C.; Vilela, Filipe; Wang, Huizhi; Xuan, Jin
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 41:Number 24(2016)
• Page Start: 10249
• Page End: 10254
• Publication Date: 2016-06-29
• Subjects: Fuel cell -- Graphene -- Annealing -- CO tolerance; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.05.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: A new oxygen-annealing treatment for Pd supported on graphene was employed to enhance the electro-catalytic performance in formic acid microfluidic fuel cells. Experiments show that both the electro-oxidation reactivity and CO tolerance of the annealed catalyst are significantly improved. When testing the fuel cell, the maximum power density with annealed catalyst is 41% higher than the unannealed Pd@graphene catalyst, and 85% higher than Pd@Vulcan XC-72. This enhancement is attributed to the PdO bond formation during the oxygen annealing step, which induces greater CO electro-oxidation reactivity. Highlights: Oxygen-annealing treatment for Pd@graphene electrocatalyst is developed. Both electro-oxidation reactivity and CO tolerance are significantly improved. 85% increase in fuel cell power density is achieved after annealing. The enhancement is attributed to the PdO bond formation.