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Energy efficiency of platinum-free alkaline direct formate fuel cells

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, L.Q.
  • Bellini, M.
  • Filippi, J.
  • Folliero, M.
  • Lavacchi, A.
  • Innocenti, M.
  • Marchionni, A.
  • Miller, H.A.
  • Vizza, F.

Abstract

We report the energy performance of a new platinum-free alkaline direct formate fuel cell, equipped with a commercial anion exchange membrane, a nanostructured Pd/C anode and a Fe–Co/C cathode. The cell was investigated both at room temperature and at 60°C for the determination of the following parameters: (i) maximum power density, (ii) delivered energy, (iii) faradic (fuel conversion) and energy efficiency. These parameters show a dramatic dependence on fuel composition. The highest energy efficiency is obtained using high energy density fuel (4M KCOOH and 4M KOH) and with a maximum operating temperature of 60°C. This represents a key step in the progress of alkaline platinum-free DFFC technology, demonstrating their potential as power sources for portable electronic devices and remote power generation systems. For example, a fuel load of 750ml in a DFFC device operating at 60°C would be able to produce 90Wh of energy, that required to fully charge the battery of a laptop computer.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, L.Q. & Bellini, M. & Filippi, J. & Folliero, M. & Lavacchi, A. & Innocenti, M. & Marchionni, A. & Miller, H.A. & Vizza, F., 2016. "Energy efficiency of platinum-free alkaline direct formate fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 479-487.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:175:y:2016:i:c:p:479-487
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.02.129
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zeng, L. & Tang, Z.K. & Zhao, T.S., 2014. "A high-performance alkaline exchange membrane direct formate fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 405-410.
    2. Wu, Q.X. & Zhao, T.S. & Chen, R. & An, L., 2013. "A sandwich structured membrane for direct methanol fuel cells operating with neat methanol," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 301-306.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nandan, Ravi & Goswami, Gopal Krishna & Nanda, Karuna Kar, 2017. "Direct synthesis of Pt-free catalyst on gas diffusion layer of fuel cell and usage of high boiling point fuels for efficient utilization of waste heat," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 1050-1058.
    2. Muneeb, Omar & Do, Emily & Boyd, Desiree & Perez, Josh & Haan, John L., 2019. "PdCu/C anode catalysts for the alkaline ascorbate fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 473-479.
    3. Ghosh, Arpita & Chandran, Priji & Ramaprabhu, S., 2017. "Palladium-nitrogen coordinated cobalt alloy towards hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions with high catalytic activity in renewable energy generations of proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 37-48.
    4. Zhong, Kengqiang & Li, Meng & Yang, Yue & Zhang, Hongguo & Zhang, Bopeng & Tang, Jinfeng & Yan, Jia & Su, Minhua & Yang, Zhiquan, 2019. "Nitrogen-doped biochar derived from watermelon rind as oxygen reduction catalyst in air cathode microbial fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 516-525.
    5. Hamish Andrew Miller & Jacopo Ruggeri & Andrea Marchionni & Marco Bellini & Maria Vincenza Pagliaro & Carlo Bartoli & Andrea Pucci & Elisa Passaglia & Francesco Vizza, 2018. "Improving the Energy Efficiency of Direct Formate Fuel Cells with a Pd/C-CeO 2 Anode Catalyst and Anion Exchange Ionomer in the Catalyst Layer," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-12, February.

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