Development Trends on Nickel-Based Electrocatalysts for Direct Hydrazine Fuel Cells

Low temperature hydrazine fuel cells have been advocated as potential energy carriers by virtue of their exceptional power densities and carbon free containing byproducts. However, the large-scale application of these renewable energy systems has been extremely inhibited by the insufficient performance and high cost of the state-of-art platinum (Pt) catalysts. To pursue better activity, electrocatalysts must demonstrate low operating overpotentials and high tolerances to poisoning species, which are critical factors for increasing the energy conversion efficiency. Despite the tremendous progress of Pt-based catalysts, controlling sluggish kinetics on microscopic surfaces is still a serious issue because the accumulation of reaction product slugs onto surface may impede the liquid fuel transport to catalytic sites, resulting in a low activity. Thus, the development of earth abundant electrocatalysts with an improved activity is unambiguously a principal requirement. In this review, recent trends in the rational design and synthesis of Ni-based electrocatalysts with various compositions for hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) are summarized. In particular, development of multicomponent compounds and employment of Ni-based materials for HzOR are demonstrated to be effective approaches from tuning the electrochemical performance of Ni-based catalyst materials. Moreover, some potential challenges and prospects are deliberated to further advance the improvement of Ni-based materials for effective HzOR.

Automated summary

Low temperature hydrazine fuel cells have the potential to be efficient energy carriers with exceptional power densities and carbon-free byproducts. However, the current limitations of platinum catalysts have hindered their large-scale application. To enhance energy conversion efficiency, electrocatalysts with low operating overpotentials and high tolerance to poisoning species are crucial. Developing earth abundant electrocatalysts with improved activity is a principal requirement, and recent research focuses on rational design and synthesis of Ni-based electrocatalysts for hydrazine oxidation reaction.