Preparation of nickel manganese oxide modified ni foam for anode catalyst direct urea fuel cell

Abstract

Renewable energy is known as environmentally friendly, such as fuel cells. Nickel is regarded as one of the most promising transition metals to be applied as an electrocatalyst in fuel cell application due to its high catalytic activity. However, the modification of nickel is required to decrease its overpotential. In the present study, the NiMn2O4/Ni-foam was prepared for an anode catalyst in the direct urea fuel cell. The NiMn2O4/Nifoam was synthesized through the hydrothermal method at 180°C for 24 h using Mn(NO3)2.6H2O and Ni(NO3)2.6H2O solutions as the precursors in the presence of urea. During the reaction, Ni foam was placed in the solution to undergo the reaction inside the porous of the Ni-foam. Cyclic voltammetry of the prepared NiMn2O4/Ni-foam electrode in a 2 M KOH solution and 0.33 M urea showed good maximum current density at 206 mA cm-2. Furthermore, the prepared electrode was examined in a direct urea fuel cell with a solution containing 2 M KOH and 0.33 M urea in the anode chamber and a solution containing 2 M H2O2 and 2 M H2SO4 in the anode chamber. A power density of 0.304 mW cm-2 was achieved, indicating the prepared electrode is promising to be developed for a catalyst in a direct urea fuel cell.