A direct NaBH4–H2O2 fuel cell using Ni foam supported Au nanoparticles as electrodes

Au/Ni-foam electrodes with three dimensional network structures are prepared by simple spontaneous deposition of nano-sized Au particles onto nickel foam surface in an aqueous solution of AuCl3. Their morphology and catalytic performance for NaBH4 electrooxidation and H2O2 electroreduction in NaOH solution are investigated. Au particles with diameters smaller than 100 nm are uniformly deposited on the whole surface of all skeletons of the nickel foam substrate. The onset potential for NaBH4 electrooxidation and H2O2 electroreduction is about −1.2 V and −0.1 V, respectively. A direct liquid feed alkaline NaBH4–H2O2 fuel cell is constructed using Au/Ni-foam electrode as both the anode and the cathode. The effects of the concentration of NaBH4 and H2O2 and operation temperature on the fuel cell performance are investigated. The fuel cell exhibits an open circuit voltage of about 1.07 V and a peak power density of 75 mW cm−2 at a current density of 150 mA cm−2 and a cell voltage of 0.5 V operating on 0.2 mol dm−3 NaBH4 and 0.5 mol dm−3 H2O2 at 40 °C.