NaBH4/H2O2 Fuel Cells for Lunar and Mars Exploration

The properties of direct hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) fuel cells are studied in this research. Different catalysts and diffusion electrodes are tested to optimize the cell performance. Initial results indicate: 1) conversion efficiency over 60% at a practical current density of 250mA/cm2; 2) power density over 0.6 W/cm2, at room temperature and ambient pressure, better than that of any traditional fuel cell. Further, the unique combination of NaBH4 and H2O2, both of which are in an aqueous form, paves the way for a convenient unitized regeneration, which is inherently compact compared to other cells that use gas phase reactants, such as the conventional H2 and O2. These excellent properties make the NaBH4/H2O2 fuel cell a very promising candidate for future space power systems. A conceptual design to power Lunar and Mars missions is discussed.