Ni/AC membrane electrode-aluminum alloy storage hydrogen gas cell

The Ni/active carbon (AC) electro-catalyst was prepared by a chemical reduce method using coconut carbon as the support. A new type of storage hydrogen gas cell was designed with membrane electrode made of Ni/AC electro-catalyst and aluminum alloy. It could output hydrogen gas with high efficiency, safety and low expense. Morphologies and structures of Ni/AC were measured and characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The activity of the Ni/AC membrane electrodes were studied in the neutral electrolyte using steady-state polarization curves. The simulative cells were assembled with different Ni/AC membrane electrodes and aluminum alloy electrodes in neutral electrolyte. The results showed that nickel particles' average size on the active carbon was the smallest, when the weight of nickel on carbon 50%. The Ni/AC membrane electrode made of Ni/AC electro-catalyst with 50wt% nickel showed best electro-catalytic performance. The simulative cell with the Ni/AC membrane with Ni content 50wt% as the cathodal electrode did not only possess best discharge capability, but had most hydrogen gas quantity.