Recent trends in carbon support for improved performance of alkaline fuel cells
Omobosede O. Fashedemi, Abdulhakeem Bello, Tosin Adewumi Adebusuyi, Sadiya Bindir
Abstract
Alkaline Fuel cells (AFCs) are one of the emerging energy future energy sources and energy conversion systems. The use of the anion exchange membrane in alkaline fuel cells (AEMFCs) has made AFCs more versatile. It has also introduced the use of an abundance of catalysts, mostly non-Platinum group metals (PGMs), especially for its more favorable cathodic oxygen reduction (ORR). The benefits and importance of the presence of efficient porous carbon supports to enhance the electroactivity of these catalysts were highlighted. Apart from the well-known carbon allotropes used as catalyst supports, some new and innovative forms of porous carbon and their composites are discussed. Their performance as stand-alone catalysts or as support for non PGMs for ORR in operating conditions of AEMFCs has given a further boost to the future availability of low-cost AFC driven devices.