Application of electrospun CNx nanofibers as cathode in microfluidic fuel cell

作者：Jindal Amandeep; Basu Suddhasatwa; Chauhan Neha; Ukai Tomofumi; Kumar D Sakthi; Samudhyatha K T

来源：Journal of Power Sources, 2017, 342: 165-174.

DOI：10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.12.047

• Microfluidic fuel cell
• Cathode catalyst
• Carbon nitride nanofibers
• Formic acid

Carbon nitride (CNx) nanofibers is successfully utilised as cathode catalyst in microfluidic fuel cell (MFC) using electrospinning technique. The electrochemical measurement for CNx nanofibers as cathode catalyst in MFC is studied and compared with that of Pt and Au cathodes. Formic acid is employed as fuel, KMnO4 as oxidant and H2SO4 as supporting electrolyte. CNx nanofibers is shown to be not active towards formic acid oxidation and as a result, is tolerant to fuel crossover effect as compared to Pt and Au cathode. CNx nanofibers enable MFC to operate at a wider range of flow rates of fuel and oxidant as compared to Pt and Au conventionally used. MFC utilising CNx nanofibers gives higher power density of 3.43 mW cm(-2) and the current density of 9.79 mAcm(-2), as compared to that utilizes pure Au (2.72 mW cm(-2), 6.04 mA cm(-2)) and Pt (3.09 mW cm(-2), 6.18 mA cm-2) as anode.

• 出版日期2017-2-28