Carbon nanotubes as catalyst support in a glucose microfluidic fuel cell in basic media

Abstract Au/MWCNTs catalysts were synthesised by chemical reduction and tested as anode electrodes in a glucose microfluidic fuel cell as a function of time at different temperatures. Physicochemical characterisation of Au/MWCNTs showed an average particle size of approximately 4 nm with high dispersion among the MWCNTs support. The use of MWNTCs as support provides chemical stability and good performance for microfluidic fuel cells. The maximum power density reached with Au/MWCNTs was 0.28 mW cm −2 . Chronoamperometric testing (4 h) at three operating temperatures (15, 25 and 35 °C) demonstrated that the use of Au/MWCNTs as anode electrodes showed better stability compared with that of Au/C.