An Experimental Study of the Performance of a Low-Cost Paper-Based Membraneless Direct Hydrogen Peroxide Fuel Cell

Abstract

A paper-based membraneless direct hydrogen peroxide fuel cell was developed and tested under different potassium hydroxide concentrations (1 to 7 mol lt -1 , stepping by 2), different hydrogen peroxide concentrations (1, 2, 3 mol lt -1 ) and different temperatures (20, 30, 40 o C). Moreover, the developed fuel cell was studied for stability under stopped and continuous flow conditions. From the experiments, it was found that the maximum power density of 6.79 mW cm -2 and the maximum open circuit voltage of 0.87 V at 40 o C were obtained when the anode solution consisted 2 mol lt -1 H 2 O 2 and 5 mol lt -1 potassium hydroxide and cathode solution consisted 2 mol lt -1 sulfuric acid and 2 mol lt -1 hydrogen peroxide. It was found that if the reactants were supplied constantly into the fuel cell, a current density of 3.12 mA cm -2 was obtained. The developed fuel cell produced energy for 91 minutes when the reactant flow was stopped.