Platinum and other platinum group metals, either as singles or in combinations, have been preferred for use in low temperature fuel cells, mainly alkaline fuel cells (AFCs), polymer membrane electrolyte fuel cells (PEMs), and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), for hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). However, also the Raney-nickel catalyst, which is among the most active non-noble metals for the HOR, has been the target of interest, especially in AFCs. However, electrodes with nonsupport Raney-nickel catalysts have been reported to suffer from insufficient conductivity. So, in this work, in order to enhance the electrical conductivity in the catalyst layer and to increase the catalytic activity, the Raney-nickel catalysts were alloyed with carbon in a planetary-type ball mill. In some samples platinum was added chemically to still enhance the catalytic properties. The activity of the processed materials was tested in the anode reaction of the alkaline fuel cell by measuring the half-cell polarization curves. It was found that the effective mixing of Raney-nickel powder and carbon in the ball mill was beneficial compared with poorer mixing in the knife mill. However, in order to achieve the same current densities at the same polarization level as the commercial Pt catalyst , much higher Raney-nickel contents were needed. Good contact between Raney-nickel and conductive material (carbon) in the catalyst layer of the alkaline fuel cell electrode can improve the performance of the Raney-nickel catalyst in the hydrogen oxidation reaction. The polarization was lowered especially at the higher current densities .
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e-mail: juha.linnekoski@tkk.fi
e-mail: jari.keskinen@vtt.fi
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February 2007
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Technical Papers
Processing of Raney-Nickel Catalysts for Alkaline Fuel Cell Applications
J. A. Linnekoski,
J. A. Linnekoski
Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry,
e-mail: juha.linnekoski@tkk.fi
Helsinki University of Technology
, P.O. Box 6100, FI-02015 TKK, Finland
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A. O. I. Krause,
A. O. I. Krause
Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry,
Helsinki University of Technology
, P.O. Box 6100, FI-02015 TKK, Finland
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Jari Keskinen,
e-mail: jari.keskinen@vtt.fi
Jari Keskinen
VTT Processes
, Hermiankatu 8 G, P.O. Box 16071, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland
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J. Lamminen,
J. Lamminen
Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics,
Helsinki University of Technology
, Espoo, Finland
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T. Anttila
T. Anttila
Search for other works by this author on:
J. A. Linnekoski
Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry,
Helsinki University of Technology
, P.O. Box 6100, FI-02015 TKK, Finlande-mail: juha.linnekoski@tkk.fi
A. O. I. Krause
Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry,
Helsinki University of Technology
, P.O. Box 6100, FI-02015 TKK, Finland
Jari Keskinen
VTT Processes
, Hermiankatu 8 G, P.O. Box 16071, FI-33101 Tampere, Finlande-mail: jari.keskinen@vtt.fi
J. Lamminen
Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics,
Helsinki University of Technology
, Espoo, Finland
T. Anttila
J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Feb 2007, 4(1): 45-48 (4 pages)
Published Online: April 4, 2006
Article history
Received:
November 30, 2005
Revised:
April 4, 2006
Citation
Linnekoski, J. A., Krause, A. O. I., Keskinen, J., Lamminen, J., and Anttila, T. (April 4, 2006). "Processing of Raney-Nickel Catalysts for Alkaline Fuel Cell Applications." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. February 2007; 4(1): 45–48. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2397140
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