doi: 10.3850/978-981-08-7614-2_IMPRES035


Development of Silk-Derived Activated Carbon as Non-precious Metal Catalyst for PEFC Cathode


Hiroshi Fukunagaa, Ryo Shishido, Toru Takatsuka and Yoshio Takasu

Department of Fine Materials Engineering, Shinshu University, 3-15-1, Tokida, Ueda-shi, Nagano, 386-8567 Japan.

afuku@shinshu-u.ac.jp

ABSTRACT

Silk-derived activated carbon (SAC) was investigated as a non-precious metal catalyst for cathode of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). SAC was prepared using silk fibroin as a starting material after removing sericin from the silk fiber. Heating rate during the primary carbonization and maximum temperature during the secondary carbonization was varied and the obtained SAC was evaluated. Membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was prepared varying the parameters such as amount of SAC or ionomer and their mixing ratio. The relationship between the electrode microstructure and the performance was evaluated. By optimizing the microstructure of the electrode, the maximum power density was 78 mW cm-2 at 80°C under ambient pressure.

Keywords: Polymer electrolyte fuel cell, Non-precious metal catalyst, Silk, Activated carbon, Oxygen reduction reaction.


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