Nickel Foam Electrode with Low Catalyst Loading and High Performance for Alkaline Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells

Abstract

Nickel foam has a unique three-dimensional (3-D) network structure that helps to effectively utilize catalysts and is often used as an electrode support material for alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells. In this chapter, first, the effect of nickel foam thickness on cell performance is explored. The results show that the thickness affects both mass transfer and electron conduction, and there is an optimal thickness. The thinner the nickel foam is, the better the conductivity is. However, the corresponding three-dimensional space becomes narrower, which results in a partial agglomeration of the catalyst and the hindrance of mass transfer. The cell performance of 0.6 mm nickel foam electrode is better than that of 0.3 and 1.0 mm. Secondly, to fully exert the catalytic function of the catalyst even at a lower loading, a mixed acid-etched nickel foam electrode with lower Pd loading (0.35 mg cm−2) is prepared then by a spontaneous deposition method. The maximum power density of the single alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell (ADEFC) can reach 30 mW cm−2, which is twice the performance of the hydrochloric acid treated nickel foam electrode. The performance improvement is attributed to the micro-holes produced by mixed acids etching, which enhances the roughness of the skeleton and improves the catalyst electrochemical active surface area.

Fabrication of a nickel sulfide/nickel oxide heterostructure for efficient electrochemical oxidation of methanol

“…Ni foam is suitable for commercialization because of all these qualities and its low cost. 55,56 Here we analyze for the first time the activity of NiS/NiO@Ni foam (synthesized by ultra-sonication) and compare it with those of pure NiO@Ni foam (synthesized by the solid-state reaction method) and pure NiS (synthesized by the hydrothermal method) for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol in alkaline media. The electro-oxidation was studied by linear sweep voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and chronoamperometry.…”