Performance Evaluation of a Platinum-free Micro Alkaline Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell Operating for Long Periods

Direct fuel cells such as those fed with ethanol (DEFCs) that employ anion exchange membranes can use non-platinum catalysts, which greatly reduces their system costs. In this study, we describe a passive air-breathing monoplanar alkaline DEFC equipped with a nanostructured carbon-supported anode (Pd) and cathode (FeCo) electrocatalysts. This DEFC was able to supply up to 30 mW cm-2 of peak electrical power density and was able to provide an almost constant amount of power at 1 mA cm-2 load for 3 months at room temperature. After such long periods of functioning at constant load, no degradation (physical or electrochemical) of the Pd-based anode catalyst was observed.