Evaluation of Single Cell Aluminum-Water Fuel Cell Performance

Al-water fuel cells having an aluminum anode are highly desirable as an energy source because of their high theoretical energy densities. Aluminum is an attractive anodic material for energy storage due to its abundance and high energy capacity, low toxicity and negative standard potential. In this study, a single-cell aluminum-water fuel cell has been fabricated and evaluated. There are several ways to solve this problem, such as the use of pre-activated aluminum, which was used in this paper. The effect of current condensate on electrochemical performance was discussed and voltage changes were reacted over time. All tests were performed at ambient temperature and KOH ۱ M solution. According to the results, it was observed that the operational and geometric parameters will affect the performance of the cell as well as the anode side reaction. In order to, reducing aluminum corrosion the current density changed from ۲۰ mA to ۱۰ mA, it was observed that the loading time of single cell increased.Al-water fuel cells having an aluminum anode are highly desirable as an energy source because of their high theoretical energy densities. Aluminum is an attractive anodic material for energy storage due to its abundance and high energy capacity, low toxicity and negative standard potential. The basis of the mechanism of hydrogen production in this method is the reaction of aluminum with water, which can be done at room temperature and normal conditions, but because aluminum oxidizes quickly and a protective layer is formed on it and will stop the reaction [i]. There are several ways to solve this problem, such as the use of pre-activated aluminum, which was used in this paper. Al-water modules consist of three main components: an activated aluminum anode; an aqueous alkaline electrolyte (KOH); and a hydrogen-evolving cathode [ii]. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate single cell made with anode (Al) and cathode electrodes (Ni-MO) with dimensions of ۱×۱ cm۲.The setup test considered in this paper was homemade and, as shown in Figure (۲), an aluminum-water cell was tested and evaluated under different operating conditions. In this paper, the principles, challenges and performance of Al-Water fuel cell from aluminum anode, Ni-MO cathode and KOH solution as electrolyte are presented. First, for the anode, aluminum is activated with intermediate metal elements (Ga-In-Sn) to prevent self-corrosion and increase fuel cell performance. In addition, for the cathode part, according to an experimental study, nickel foam was used, which was converted into Ni-MO alloy in electrolyte solution Na۲MoO۴.۲H۲O+NH۴Cl+NiCl۲.۶H۲O) using the method of electrodeposition and from the waterin the electrolyte solution to the cathode side current is used. In addition, a ۱ M KOH solutionwas used for the electrolyte part at ambient temperature.In this paper, a single aluminum-water cell is tested in two currents of ۱۰ and ۲۰ mA, the results ofwhich can be seen in the figure (۲).As can be seen in Figure (۲), the higher the current taken from the cell (۲۰ mA), and the shorter thereaction time and the faster the aluminum will be destroyed. It can be concluded that in a test with acurrent of ۱۰ mA, about ۵۰% more than a test with a current of ۲۰ mA can produce electrical energyfrom aluminum.In this paper, the performance of a single-cell aluminum-water fuel cell was investigated. The effectof current condensate on electrochemical performance was discussed and voltage changes werereacted over time. All tests were performed at ambient temperature and KOH ۱ M solution. Theresults of this study showed that by reducing the flow, the reaction time can be increased and alsothe percentage of aluminum metal utilization will be increased, which will improve the performanceof the fuel cell. Therefore, proper flow can improve the performance of aluminum-water fuel cells.

Keywords:

Al-H۲O Semi Fuel Cell , Single Cell