Insights into the borohydride electrooxidation reaction on metallic nickel from operando FTIRS, on-line DEMS and DFT

Abstract Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells (DBFCs) are considered as promising power sources for portable and mobile applications. Their advantages are high theoretical energy density, and high theoretical cell voltage. Metallic Ni has recently emerged as a promising electrode material for DBFCs. In this work we combine electrochemical, operando Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS), and online differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) measurements with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to advance the understanding of the borohydride oxidation reaction on Ni.