Volume 28: Closing Carbon Cycles – A Transformation Process Involving Technology, Economy, and Society: Part III

Miniaturized 3D Printed Carbon Cloth-Based Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vanmathi S, Jayapiriya U S, Sanket Goel

Abstract

Hydrogen is the most fascinating renewable energy source. Hydrogen fuel cells have facilitated the capture of hydrogen and converted power into useful energy. In this work, carbon cloth-based electrodes were used to develop miniaturized hydrogen fuel cells (HFC) using 3D-printed sealing parts. Cobalt (II) Oxide (Co3O4), synthesized from Cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate and reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) based nanoparticles, was used to advance the catalytic activity at the anode, and Platinum-Carbon (Pt/C) coated carbon cloth serves as the cathode. A 4.5 mg of aluminum foil embedded inside the carbon cloth was utilized for hydrogen generation. The cell discharge analysis was observed to be stable up to 4h 60 minutes, as during this time aluminum foil produced hydrogen. This compact 3D-printed HFC device was capable of producing an open circuit potential of 480 mV and a peak power density of 25.6 µW cm2 when the Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) alkaline electrolyte was introduced into the HFC. Furthermore, the series and parallel combination of devices produced higher voltage and power output. This cell design can be used as the power source for devices with small power applications.

Keywords Fuel cell, Carbon cloth, 3D printer, Aluminum, Catalyst, Renewable energy.