Preparation and characterization of platinized-carbon hydrogen anodes for alkali and acid fuel cells

Abstract

Highly dispersed platinized-carbon hydrogen anodes are developed for utilization in alkali and acidic media power sources viz., hydrogen/air fuel cells and nickel/hydrogen batteries, by tailor making both the macro as well as micro structures of these electrodes. The optimized hydrogen anodes can withstand load currents upto 350, 800 and 500 mA/cm₂ for extended periods in 6N KOH, 5N H₂SO₄ and 2ON H₃PO₄ electrolytes respectively. Characterization techniques such as photoelectron Spectroscopy, X-ray absorption Spectroscopy, chemisorption, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, electron spin resonance etc., are found to be useful in developing such electrodes. The study clearly demonstrates the significance of physico-chemical characterization techniques in developing fuel cell electrodes.