A direct borohydride—Acid peroxide fuel cell

A fuel cell operating with aqueous sodium borohydride and hydrogen peroxide streams, with one, two and four cells (electrode area 64, 128 and 256 cm2) connected in a bipolar mode in a filterpress flow cell is reported. The oxidation of borohydride ion was carried out on Au/C particles supported on a carbon felt electrode while the reduction of hydrogen peroxide was carried out on carbon supported Pt on a carbon paper substrate. Comparable cell potentials and power densities to direct borohydride fuel cells reported in the literature were obtained. The challenges to further development includes: increasing the low current density and avoid decomposition of borohydride and peroxide ions. The maximum power obtained at 20 °C for one, two and four cell stacks was 2.2, 3.2 and 9.6 W (34.4, 25 and 37.5 mW cm−2, respectively) with cell voltages of 1.06, 0.81 and 3.2 V at current densities of 32, 16 and 12 mA cm−2, respectively.