Performance Of Cobalt-containing Anodes In Glucose Fuel Cells And Their Fabrication By Using 3D Printing Technology

The continuous depletion of fossil fuels and environmental problems are becoming increasingly acute,so the development of renewable energy is urgently needed.As a green,economical and convenient energy storage device,glucose fuel cell has gradually become a research hotspot.In this paper,environmentally friendly and non-noble cobalt was used as a catalytic material.Ultimately,a kind of electrodeposited cobalt activated carbon anode was obtained by electrochemical deposition and rolling method.In this experimental system,the power density of the anode obtained under the optimal preparation conditions in the glucose alkaline fuel cell was 1.24 times then that of the blank carbon foam nickel anode,which improved the efficiency of anodic oxidation of glucose effectively.Then,nickel cobalt bimetallic composite catalysts were prepared by sodium borohydride reduction method.When the anode was doped with the catalyst?mole ratio of nickel-cobalt was 2:1?,the anode showed the best performance and the power density could reach 23.997 W·m^-2,which was increased by 27.70%compared to the electrodeposited cobalt foam anode.In order to explore the nickel-cobalt composite catalyst reaction mechanism of catalytic oxidation of glucose in the anode,we characterized a series of material characterization methods.Consequently,we found that composite catalyst existed in the form of nanoparticles,and the composition such as hydroxy nickel,nickel hydroxide and cobalt hydroxide were detected on the surface of the nickel-cobalt composite catalysts.Based on the results of electrochemical test,we found that the catalytic performance of different nickel-cobalt catalysts was different.Finally,we speculated that there was a synergistic effect between Ni and Co in the composite catalyst.Finally,we combined 3D printing technology with fuel cell.First,we tried to print integrated fuel cell by FDM technology,and then utilized the purchased conductive 3D printing wire to achieve the rapid preparation of fuel cell anodes.In addition,we produced a graphene“rGOP”electrode by ourselves,and it was found that the addition of Ni₄Co₂ composite catalyst in rGOP electrode could enhance the catalytic performance of the anodes.In this paper,the catalytic efficiency of the anode in fuel cell has been improved,and the fuel cell has the advantages of low cost,simple process,friendly environment and so on.The research of this paper is meaningful to promote the further development of fuel cells,and puts forward a new idea for the application of 3D printing technology in fuel cells.