Electrooxidation Study of Acetic Acid at Low Temperature in Membrane Less Microfluidic Fuel Cell for Portable Power Application

Abstract

The global energy crisis due to dependence on fossil fuel and its limited reserves followed by environmental pollution are the key concerns to the research communities. However, recently developed micro-fluidic fuel cells using hydrogen-rich fuels are most likely to replace the batteries, due to their compactness, high efficiency and simplicity in operation. In this context, the PtxSn/C (where, x=1, 3, 5) electrode-catalysts were prepared and the electro-oxidation of acetic acid was investigated on most active Pt3Sn/C anode. The prepared electrode-catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The Y-shaped micro-fluidic fuel cell was fabricated with help of CNC machine on perspex sheet. The anode and cathode were prepared using Pt3Sn/C and Pt/C (Alfa Aesar, USA) respectively, with electrode-catalyst loading of 1 mg/cm2 in both the electrodes. Acetic acid solutions of 1, 1.5 and 2 M concentrations were used as fuel at anode. 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 M H2SO4 solutions were used as electrolytes. The oxidants at the cathode were 1, 2 and 3 M solutions of H2O2. The open circuit voltage (OCV) was measured at different flow rates of anode (acetic acid+H2SO4) and cathode (H2O2+H2SO4) mixtures. The maximum OCV of 0.13 V was obtained for 2 M acetic acid mixed with 0.2 M H2SO4. The maximum power density of 0.036 mW/cm2 at current density of 0.47 mA/cm2 was obtained for 1.5 M acetic acid at the anode and 2 M H2O2 as oxidant in 0.2 M H2SO4 at the cathode. The optimum flow rates of anode and cathode side were found to be 1.125 ml/min for OCV of 0.118 V.

Cite this Article

Solanke Pawankumar, Shashank Pardhikar, Hiralal Pramanik. Electro-oxidation Study of Acetic Acid at Low Temperature in Membrane Less Micro-fluidic Fuel Cell for Portable Power Application. Journal of Modern Chemistry & Chemical Technology. 2016; 7(1): 58–66p.