Fabrication and characterization of alkaline leached CuZn/Cu electrode as anode material for direct methanol fuel cell

Abstract

Alkaline-leached CuZn binary coatings were electrochemically prepared on a copper substrate and characterized for methanol electro-oxidation in alkaline solution. The electrodes were characterized by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and EDX (energy dispersive X-ray) spectroscopy. CV (Cyclic voltammetry), EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and CA (chronoamperometry) were used to investigate electrochemical activity of the electrodes. The effects of some parameters such as surface coverage (Γ), anodic electron transfer coefficient (αa) and rate constant (ks) on the electro-oxidation of methanol were determined. It was found that the alkaline leached CuZn/Cu electrode has significantly better rates of methanol electro-oxidation. The relative electrocatalytic efficiency is as follows: CuZn/Cu > Cu/Cu > Cu. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.