Nickel-Rare Earth (RE = Ce, Sm, Dy) Electrodes for H2O2 Reduction in Fuel Cells. (28th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Santos, Diogo M.F.; Cardoso, David; Sljukic, Biljana; Sequeira, Cesar A.C.; Macciò, Daniele; Saccone, Adriana
• Is Part Of: ECS transactions. Volume 72:Number 25(2016)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 40
• Publication Date: 2016-07-28
• Subjects: Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journal; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1149/07225.0031ecst
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1938-5862

Abstract

Abstract : The use of hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) as an oxidant is considered a good alternative to oxygen for the cathodic process in liquid fuel cells. Herein, we studied the reduction of H2 O2 at nickel and at nickel-rare earth (RE = Ce, Sm, Dy) alloys containing 5 and 10 at.% of RE metal. The alloys were prepared by arc melting, starting from the stoichiometric amounts of the two parent metals, and analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The electrochemical characterization was carried out by voltammetry and chronoamperometry measurements in alkaline media. Ni0.95 Ce0.05 alloy exhibited the highest catalytic activity for H2 O2 reduction reaction, with a number of exchanged electrons of 1.7. Additionally, activation energies were estimated according to Arrhenius equation.