100
9 Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Nanotechnology
electrodes by dry pressing method. For the coating of Pr 6 O 11 nanoparticles, the
infiltration technique was used. In practice, the 1 M solution Pr(NO 3 ) 3. 6H 2 O was
prepared and then dripped onto the PrBaMn 2 O 5+δ electrode backbone. The fabricated
electrodes were characterized with hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction
(H 2 -TPR), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), oxygen temperature-programmed desorption (O 2 -TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical measurements. The nanocatalystcoated electrodes depicted decreased cathode and anode polarization resistance. The
symmetrical cell power outputs were enhanced by ∼75% at 800 °C by employing
the nanocatalyst-coated electrodes. The electrodes were also found to be very stable
in redox environment [24].
In an investigation, modified nanoflakes of cobalt enclosed with cobalt oxide
were electrodeposited on different types of carbonaceous anodes. In this study, four
forms of carbon anode, i.e., carbon paper, carbon cloth, graphite, and activated carbon
were selected to be modified and then employed as high-performing anodes in microbial fuel cells. The characterizations results directed that modified cobalt nanoflakes
that were enclosed by a thin cobalt oxide layer were developed on carbon anode
surfaces. The cobalt oxide-covered nanoflakes of cobalt were deposited on the carbon
electrodes via simple and efficient electrodeposition method, so as to eradicate the
problem of the interfacial electron transfer and hydrophobicity of the electrodes. The
deposition of thin layer of the nanoflakes on the electrodes appreciably improves the
adhesion of microbes, the wettability of surface of the anode, and reduction in electron transfer resistance. The toxicity of the pristine cobalt is also reduced by the
layer of cobalt oxide. When the modified electrodes were employed in the microbial
fuel cells, they showed significant improvement in power generation. The modified
carbon paper ele, carbon cloth, graphite, and activated carbon depicted 137, 103,
173, and 71% power generation, respectively. This proposed treatment technique
represented a high performance, excellent microbial adhesion, easy fabrication, and
scale-up anodes for MFC [25].
9.4 Fuel Cells and Nanocatalysts
The narrative of the fuel cells is incomplete without the involvement of the nanocatalyst. Several modern-day fuel cell technology researches take the route of nanocatalyst for the production of better function, efficient, and low-cost fuel cells. Some of
the nanocatalyst utilized in a variety of fuel cells are discussed in Table 9.1.
9 Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Nanotechnology
electrodes by dry pressing method. For the coating of Pr 6 O 11 nanoparticles, the
infiltration technique was used. In practice, the 1 M solution Pr(NO 3 ) 3. 6H 2 O was
prepared and then dripped onto the PrBaMn 2 O 5+δ electrode backbone. The fabricated
electrodes were characterized with hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction
(H 2 -TPR), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), oxygen temperature-programmed desorption (O 2 -TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical measurements. The nanocatalystcoated electrodes depicted decreased cathode and anode polarization resistance. The
symmetrical cell power outputs were enhanced by ∼75% at 800 °C by employing
the nanocatalyst-coated electrodes. The electrodes were also found to be very stable
in redox environment [24].
In an investigation, modified nanoflakes of cobalt enclosed with cobalt oxide
were electrodeposited on different types of carbonaceous anodes. In this study, four
forms of carbon anode, i.e., carbon paper, carbon cloth, graphite, and activated carbon
were selected to be modified and then employed as high-performing anodes in microbial fuel cells. The characterizations results directed that modified cobalt nanoflakes
that were enclosed by a thin cobalt oxide layer were developed on carbon anode
surfaces. The cobalt oxide-covered nanoflakes of cobalt were deposited on the carbon
electrodes via simple and efficient electrodeposition method, so as to eradicate the
problem of the interfacial electron transfer and hydrophobicity of the electrodes. The
deposition of thin layer of the nanoflakes on the electrodes appreciably improves the
adhesion of microbes, the wettability of surface of the anode, and reduction in electron transfer resistance. The toxicity of the pristine cobalt is also reduced by the
layer of cobalt oxide. When the modified electrodes were employed in the microbial
fuel cells, they showed significant improvement in power generation. The modified
carbon paper ele, carbon cloth, graphite, and activated carbon depicted 137, 103,
173, and 71% power generation, respectively. This proposed treatment technique
represented a high performance, excellent microbial adhesion, easy fabrication, and
scale-up anodes for MFC [25].
9.4 Fuel Cells and Nanocatalysts
The narrative of the fuel cells is incomplete without the involvement of the nanocatalyst. Several modern-day fuel cell technology researches take the route of nanocatalyst for the production of better function, efficient, and low-cost fuel cells. Some of
the nanocatalyst utilized in a variety of fuel cells are discussed in Table 9.1.