Evaluation of Ag as an Active Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell Electrode Catalyst Prepared by Pulsed Current Electrodeposition Technique

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 CMRDI

2 Central metallurgical research and development institute

3 Monifiaa University

Abstract

Pulsed current electrodeposition of silver on graphite from non-cyanide bath has been employed. The influence of pulse parameters on electrocatalytic activity of Ag catalyst for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media have been evaluated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X- ray diffraction (XRD) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results reveal that the optimum condition can be obtained at 60 % duty cycle, 50 mAcm-2 average current density, 10 min. deposition time, and 10 Hz pulse frequency. The electrocatalytic activity and stability of Ag/C electrode prepared, at corresponding optimum condition, by pulse current (PC) and direct current (DC) electrodeposition for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media have been compared. The results illustrate that PC silver catalyst exhibits higher oxidation peak current density, higher surface coverage, higher poisoning tolerance as well as smaller charge transfer resistance, in alkaline ethanol solution, than that prepared by DC technique and thus can be used as an active anode material for direct ethanol fuel cell at a reduced cost.

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