A New Formic Acid/Iron Ion Fuel Cell†

doi:10.7503/cjcu20160457

Abstract

Abstract:

A new formic acid/iron ion(Ⅲ) fuel cell was constructed with formic acid as the fuel and Fe³⁺ as oxidant. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs) and β-cyclodextrin(β-CD) modified MWCNT(β-CD-MWCNT)-supported palladium-based catalysts, PdSn/MWCNT, Pd/β-CD-MWCNT and PdSn/β-CD-MWCNT, were synthesized and used to electro-catalyze formic acid oxidation. Cyclic voltammograms(CVs) and chronoamperograms(CAs) were applied to investigate the electroactivity of the catalysts for formic acid oxidation in alkaline media. The results showed that addition of suitable amount of tin to palladium and modification of MWCNT with β-CD can promote electrocatalytic activity of Pd/MWCNT catalyst for formic acid oxidation. The formic acid/iron ion(Ⅲ) fuel cell with the prepared Pd-based catalysts as anode and carbon powder as cathode presents the open circuit voltage of 0.98—1.20 V. The fuel cell with PdSn/β-CD-MWCNT as anode exhibits the maximum current density of 50 mA/cm² and the maximum power density of 12.6 mW/cm², showing a much better cell performance than the fuel cell with Pd/C as the anode.

Key words: Formic acid oxidation, Palladium catalyst, Iron ion cell, Fuel cell

CLC Number:

TrendMD:

ZOU Tao, YI Qingfeng, ZHANG Yuanyuan, DENG Zhongliang, LEI Ming, ZHOU Xiulin. A New Formic Acid/Iron Ion Fuel Cell^†[J]. Chem. J. Chinese Universities, 2017, 38(1): 101.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig.1 CVs of the prepared catalysts in 1.0 mol/L NaOH solution at 50 mV/sa. PdSn/β-CD-MWCNT; b. PdSn/MWCNT;c. Pd/β-CD-MWCNT; d. Pd/C.

Fig.2 CVs of the prepared catalysts in 1.0 mol/L NaOH+0.5 mol/L HCOOH solution at 50 mV/sa. PdSn/β-CD-MWCNT; b. PdSn/MWCNT;c. Pd/β-CD-MWCNT; d. Pd/C.

Fig.3 Chronoamperometric responses of the prepared catalysts in 1.0 mol/L NaOH+0.5 mol/L HCOOH solution at -0.2 Va. PdSn/β-CD-MWCNT; b. PdSn/MWCNT;c. Pd/β-CD-MWCNT; d. Pd/C.

Fig.4 LSVs of carbon electrode in 0.5 mol/L NaCl+0.5 mol/L Fe3+ solution at sweep rates of 0.1 mV/s(a) and 1.0 mV/s(b)

Fig.5 Formic acid/ Fe3+ cell polarization curves(A) and plots of power density vs. cell current density(B) with different anode catalystsAnolyte: 1.0 mol/L NaOH+0.5 mol/L HCOOH; catholyte 0.5 mol/L NaCl+0.5 mol/L FeCl3, cathode: carbon powder. Anode catalyst: a. PdSn/β-CD-MWCNT; b. PdSn/MWCNT; c. Pd/β-CD-MWCNT; d. Pd/C.

Fig.6 Stability test of formic acid/iron fuel cell with PdSn/β-CD-MWCNT anode at 12 mA/cm2Cathode, anolyte and catholyte are the same as Fig.5.

Fig.7 Dependence of anolyte pH value upon discharging time at 12 mA/cm2The other conditions are the same as Fig.5.

Fig.8 Dependence of the concentration of Fe3+ and Fe2+ upon the bubbling time of oxygen gas at a flow rate of 20 mL/min

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