Activation of carbon porous paper for alkaline alcoholic fuel cells

Abstract

In this study, various treatment methods to increase the reactivity of carbon porous electrodes for alkaline alcoholic fuel cells were investigated with commercially available carbon papers to understand the characteristic electrochemical behaviors of the treated carbon electrodes and to find the best method to enhance the cell performance. Effects of thermal treatment, potassium hydroxide (KOH) treatment, N2 doping, and reaction-area control via a multi-layered structure were compared in the cell-based tests, and a huge improvement in the cell performance (i.e., 64% increase of open circuit voltage (OCV) and 320% increase of max power density) was found from the thermal-treated four-layered carbon porous electrode. The results were compared with those from platinum on carbon (Pt/C)-based cells, and a discussion on the direction of research in the future was conducted. The results of this study are expected to provide key guidelines for alcoholic fuel cell (AFC) developers to develop cost-effective AFC with a carbon electrode.