Preparation and Performance of Highly Efficient Au Nanoparticles Electrocatalyst for the Direct Borohydride Fuel Cell

Au nanoparticles supported on Vulcan XC-72R carbon were prepared by a modified NaBH4 method in aqueous solution and employed as electrocatalyst of BH4- 4 oxidation for the direct borohydride fuel cell (DBFC). The morphology and structure of as-prepared particles were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that Au nanoparticles were mainly about 3.0 +/- 0.5 nm in size and uniformly distributed on the surface of Vulcan XC-72R carbon. The electrooxidation behaviors of BH4- and fuel cell performances using carbon-supported Au nanoparticles as catalysts were investigated. Compared with Au/C prepared by conventional reduction method, the kinetics of BH4- oxidation on as-prepared carbon supported 3.0 +/- 0.5 nm Au nanoparticles were significantly improved. The DBFC employing carbon supported 3.0 +/- 0.5 nm Au nanoparticles showed a maximum power density of 85.3 mW cm(-2) at 60 degrees C.