Investigation of Select Pure Earth Metals as Redox Catalytic Electrodes in Single Compartment Hydrogen Peroxide Fuel Cells

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide is a promising alternative to hydrogen gas for fuel cells, as it can act as the oxidizing and reducing agent and be stored in a stable liquid form, it simplifies the structure of the fuel cell. This study aims to investigate the use of antimony, bismuth, indium, tantalum, silver, dysprosium, erbium, gadolinium, holmium, and terbium as electrodes for the first time in a single-compartment hydrogen peroxide fuel cell. In this study, the procedure for custom electrodes for these metals is documented. The performance of the electrodes was evaluated by measuring the open circuit potential, comparing the cyclic voltammograms and observing the physical reactions of the cell combinations. The results of the study show the catalytic reaction is likely due to the formation of molecular oxide layers on the electrode surface. It was evident that an acidic peroxide electrolyte favors the best catalytic reaction. Tantalum and antimony were found to be the best-performing electrodes in this electrolyte, providing the best stability and performance.

Keywords

• fuel cells
• hydrogen peroxide fuel cells
• cyclic voltammetry