Electrochemical characterization of MnO2 as electrocatalytic energy material for fuel cell electrode

Development of inexpensive non Pt based high electrocatalytic energy materials is the need of the hour for fuel cell electrode to produce clean alternative green energy from synthesized bio alcohol using biomass. MnO2, electro synthesized at different current density is found to be well performed electrocatalytic material, comparable to Pt, with higher current density, very low overvoltage for the electrochemical oxidation of methanol. From EIS study, the polarization resistance of the coated MnO2 is found to be much low and electrical double layer capacitance is high, the effect increases with increase in current density of electro deposition. XRD, EDX and AAS analysis confirm the MnO2 deposition. The morphology of SEM images exhibits an enhanced 3D effective substrate area, for electro oxidation of the fuel. A few nano structured grains of the deposited MnO2 is also observed at higher current density. The fact supports that a high energetic inexpensive electro catalytic material has been found for fuel cell electrode to synthesis renewable energy from methanol fuel. ©, 2015, Ranliao Huaxue Xuebao/Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology. All right reserved.