Nanoporous Core-Shell Multifunctional Electrocatalysts Toward Flexible Ethanol Fuel Cells.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Flexible direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) are vital for wearable electronics but face challenges like catalyst poisoning and fuel leakage.
• Existing catalysts often lack the stability and efficiency required for practical DAFC applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly active and stable catalyst for flexible DAFCs.
• To improve the anti-poisoning capabilities and reduce fuel leakage in DAFCs.
• To demonstrate the potential of nanoporous metal/alloy catalysts in flexible energy devices.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a nanoporous gold-loaded PtPdRhCo quaternary core-shell catalyst using electrodeposition.
• Assembly of a flexible direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) using the catalyst and a hydrogel electrolyte.
• Electrochemical characterization of catalyst activity and fuel cell performance.

Main Results:

• The quaternary catalyst demonstrated superior mass activities for ethanol oxidation (25.20 A·mgPt⁻¹), methanol oxidation (19.30 A·mgPt⁻¹), and oxygen reduction (0.82 A·mgPt⁻¹).
• The flexible DEFC achieved a stable output potential of 0.55 V and a maximum power density of 17.68 mW·cm⁻².
• The developed catalyst showed improved anti-poisoning properties and effectively managed fuel leakage.

Conclusions:

• The novel nanoporous gold-loaded quaternary catalyst significantly enhances DEFC performance.
• This work offers a promising pathway for developing advanced flexible energy devices.
• The catalyst design provides a valuable reference for future research in flexible electronics.