IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v11y2018i2p369-d130218.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • Hamish Andrew Miller

    (Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy)

  • Jacopo Ruggeri

    (Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
    Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Andrea Marchionni

    (Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy)

  • Marco Bellini

    (Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy)

  • Maria Vincenza Pagliaro

    (Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy)

  • Carlo Bartoli

    (Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy)

  • Andrea Pucci

    (Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Elisa Passaglia

    (Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Area della Ricerca, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Francesco Vizza

    (Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (CNR-ICCOM), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy)

Abstract

This article describes the development of a high power density Direct Formate Fuel Cell (DFFC) fed with potassium formate (KCOOH). The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) contains no platinum metal. The cathode catalyst is FeCo/C combined with a commercial anion exchange membrane (AEM). To enhance the power output and energy efficiency we have employed a nanostructured Pd/C-CeO 2 anode catalyst. The activity for the formate oxidation reaction (FOR) is enhanced when compared to a Pd/C catalyst with the same Pd loading. Fuel cell tests at 60 °C show a peak power density of almost 250 mW cm −2 . The discharge energy (14 kJ), faradic efficiency (89%) and energy efficiency (46%) were determined for a single fuel charge (30 mL of 4 M KCOOH and 4 M KOH). Energy analysis demonstrates that removal of the expensive KOH electrolyte is essential for the future development of these devices. To compensate we apply for the first time a polymeric ionomer in the catalyst layer of the anode electrode. A homopolymer is synthesized by the radical polymerization of vinyl benzene chloride followed by amination with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO). The energy delivered, energy efficiency and fuel consumption efficiency of DFFCs fed with 4 M KCOOH are doubled with the use of the ionomer.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:2:p:369-:d:130218
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/369/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/369/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chambers, Christopher P. & Miller, Alan D., "undated". "Inefficiency," Working Papers WP2011/14, University of Haifa, Department of Economics, revised 30 Nov 2011.
    2. Y. X. Chen & A. Lavacchi & H. A. Miller & M. Bevilacqua & J. Filippi & M. Innocenti & A. Marchionni & W. Oberhauser & L. Wang & F. Vizza, 2014. "Nanotechnology makes biomass electrolysis more energy efficient than water electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-6, September.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yasunari Shinoda & Masakazu Takeuchi & Hikaru Mizukami & Norikazu Dezawa & Yasuhiro Komo & Takuya Harada & Hiroki Takasu & Yukitaka Kato, 2021. "Characterization of Pd 60 Cu 40 Composite Membrane Prepared by a Reverse Build-Up Method for Hydrogen Purification," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-16, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. Adamson, David & Mallawaarachchi, Thilak & Quiggin, John C., 2007. "Water use and salinity in the Murray–Darling Basin: A state-contingent model," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 51(3), pages 1-19.
    3. Ju, HyungKuk & Badwal, Sukhvinder & Giddey, Sarbjit, 2018. "A comprehensive review of carbon and hydrocarbon assisted water electrolysis for hydrogen production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 502-533.
    4. Olszewski, Wojciech & Safronov, Mikhail, 2018. "Efficient cooperation by exchanging favors," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 13(3), September.
    5. Ganceng Yang & Yanqing Jiao & Haijing Yan & Ying Xie & Chungui Tian & Aiping Wu & Yu Wang & Honggang Fu, 2022. "Unraveling the mechanism for paired electrocatalysis of organics with water as a feedstock," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. 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.
    7. Serra, Teresa & Chambers, Robert G. & Oude Lansink, Alfons, 2014. "Measuring technical and environmental efficiency in a state-contingent technology," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 236(2), pages 706-717.
    8. Hughes, Neal & Lawson, Kenton & Davidson, Alistair & Jackson, Tom & Sheng, Yu, 2011. "Productivity pathways: climate-adjusted production frontiers for the Australian broadacre cropping industry," 2011 Conference (55th), February 8-11, 2011, Melbourne, Australia 100563, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    9. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/153e5es3a8988omf0qkf000ql2 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Chambers, Christopher P. & Miller, Alan D., 2014. "Scholarly influence," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 571-583.
    11. Bannor, Frank & Dikgang, Johane & Kutela Gelo, Dambala, 2021. "Interdependence between research and development, climate variability and agricultural production: evidence from sub-Saharan Africa," MPRA Paper 105697, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Chambers, Robert G. & Hailu, Atakelty & Quiggin, John, 2011. "Event-specific data envelopment models and efficiency analysis," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 55(1), pages 1-17.
    13. Robert Chambers & John Quiggin, 2007. "Information value and efficiency measurement for risk-averse firms," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 197-208, June.
    14. Zhou, Wei & Chen, Shuai & Meng, Xiaoxiao & Li, Jiayi & Huang, Yuming & Gao, Jihui & Zhao, Guangbo & He, Yong & Qin, Yukun, 2022. "Two-step coal-assisted water electrolysis for energy-saving hydrogen production at cell voltage of 1.2 V with current densities larger than 150 mA/cm2," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    15. Yue, Pengtao & Kang, Zhongyin & Fu, Qian & Li, Jun & Zhang, Liang & Zhu, Xun & Liao, Qiang, 2021. "Life cycle and economic analysis of chemicals production via electrolytic (bi)carbonate and gaseous CO2 conversion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    16. Gina Lopez & Hannah Beate Kolem & Amit Kumar Srivastava & Thomas Gaiser & Frank Ewert, 2019. "A Model-Based Estimation of Resource Use Efficiencies in Maize Production in Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-19, September.
    17. Salim, Ruhul A. & Islam, Nazrul, 2010. "Exploring the impact of R&D and climate change on agricultural productivity growth: the case of Western Australia," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 54(4), pages 1-22.
    18. Skevas, Theodoros & Lansink, Alfons Oude & Stefanou, Spiro E., 2012. "Measuring technical efficiency in the presence of pesticide spillovers and production uncertainty: The case of Dutch arable farms," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 223(2), pages 550-559.
    19. Berger, Allen N., 2003. "The efficiency effects of a single market for financial services in Europe," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(3), pages 466-481, November.
    20. Mette Asmild & Tomas Baležentis & Jens Leth Hougaard, 2016. "Multi-directional productivity change: MEA-Malmquist," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 109-119, December.
    21. Dawon Baik & Brenda Zierler, 2019. "Clinical nurses’ experiences and perceptions after the implementation of an interprofessional team intervention: A qualitative study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(3-4), pages 430-443, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:2:p:369-:d:130218. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.