Pd-Pt loaded graphene aerogel on nickel foam composite as binder-free anode for a direct glucose fuel cell unit

• Published in: Solid state sciences 2017-09, Vol.71, p.123-129
• Main Authors: Tsang, Chi Him A., Leung, D.Y.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fuel cell; Glucose; Graphene; Palladium; Platinum
• ISSN: 1293-2558; 1873-3085
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2017.07.014

Fabrication of electrocatalyst for direct glucose fuel cell (DGFC) operation involves destructive preparation methods with the use of stabilizer like binder, which may cause activity depreciation. Binder-free electrocatalytic electrode becomes a possible solution to the above problem. Binder-free bimetallic Pd-Pt loaded graphene aerogel on nickel foam plates with different Pd/Pt ratios (1:2.32, 1:1.62, and 1:0.98) are successfully fabricated through a green one-step mild reduction process producing a Pd-Pt/GO/nickel form plate (NFP) composite. Anode with the binder-free electrocatalysts exhibit a strong activity in a batch type DGFC unit under room temperature. The effects of glucose and KOH concentrations, and the Pd/Pt ratios of the electrocatalyst on the DGFC performance are also studied. Maximum power density output of 1.25 mW cm−2 is recorded with 0.5 M glucose/3 M KOH as the anodic fuel, and Pd1Pt0.98/GA/NFP as catalyst, which is the highest obtained so far among other types of electrocatalyst. Pd-Pt/GA/NFP electrode was prepared by one-step, binder-free, and green method via mild conditioned hydrothermal reduction, which was used as anode of DGFC unit. The Pd-Pt/GA/NFP achieved the best performance at Pd/Pt atomic ratio of 1:0.98 in 0.5 M glucose/3 M KOH solution in the DGFC unit with the corresponding power output of 1.25 mW cm−2. [Display omitted] •A green and one-step process was developed to prepare Pd-Pt/GA/NFP electrodes.•The overall metal loading Pd-Pt/GA/NFP electrodes were lower than 20 wt%.•The binder-free Pd-Pt/GA/NFP electrode had higher activity than binder loaded one.•The Pd1Pt1.03/GA/NFP electrode activity varied with glucose and KOH concentration.•The Pd1Pt1.03/GA/NFP electrode achieved the best activity at 0.5 M glucose/3 M KOH.