Preparation of the natural carbon fiber from narrow-leaved cattails (Typha angustifolia Linn.) flower for using as the cathode catalyst in the zinc-air fuel cell

Abstract The natural carbon fibers were prepared from the narrow-leaved cattails flower for using as the cathode catalyst of the Zn-air fuel cell. Effects of the calcination temperatures on the surface morphology and crystalline structure were characterized by SEM and XRD technique. An electrical conductivity of the natural carbon fiber was investigated. The polarization curves of the fuel cell were measured by using an electronic load. The result shows that the average diameter of fiber is slightly decreased with the calcination temperature. The phase transformation of the carbon material from the amorphous carbon structure into semi-crystalline structure with a better degree of order was obtained when the samples were calcined at higher temperature. The electrical conductivity of the natural carbon fiber increase with the calcination temperature. The cathode catalyst of the Zinc-Air fuel cell from the natural carbon fibers calcinated at 800 °C give the best condition with the highest of the short circuit current density and power density.