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Abstract: A borohydride fuel cell has been constructed using a platinized multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) anode and an air cathode having an anionic exchange membrane separating the anode and cathode. The MWCNT was functionalized with carboxylic acid under nitric acid reflux. Platinum metal was subsequently incorporated into it by galvanostatic deposition. The platinized functionalized MWCNT was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The fuel cell produced a voltage of 0.95V at low currents and a maximum power density of 44mWcm−2 at room temperature in 10% sodium borohydride in a 4M sodium hydroxide medium. Another borohydride fuel cell under identical conditions using carbon as the anode produced a cell voltage of 0.90V and power density of about 20mWcm−2. The improved performance of the MWCNT is attributed to the higher effective surface area and catalytic activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Zinc-graphene composite has been electrolytically produced for the first time using a graphene quantum dot (GQD) electrode. The electrochemical reduction of zinc ion at a GQD electrode is shifted to a lesser negative potential with the complimentary anodic peak due to the oxidation of the composite shifted towards a positive potential as compared to zinc ion reduction in the GQD bath. The coulombic efficiency of the composite represents a gain of nearly 10% over the conventional Zn/Zn 2+ in the energy storage systems. In galvanostatic electrolysis, the deposition of zinc-graphene composite is carried out under neutral and acidic conditions. The X-ray diffraction of the electrolytically prepared composite shows distinct features of 2 theta reflection at 8° due to (001) plane of graphene, in addition to the characteristic reflections at 38.9°,43.2°, 54.3°, 70.1° and 90° arising from Zn at (002), (100), (101), (102) and (110). A large scale preparation of the zinc-graphene composite has been achieved at a zinc plate as the working electrode in the GQD bath. The composite is stable up to 250 °C. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and energy dispersion X-ray analysis (EDAX) shows a string like structure with peaks for carbon and zinc in EDAX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]