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⁻ 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 °C.