Alkaline fuel cell with intrinsic energy storage

A new high peak power density alkaline fuel cell (FC) was fabricated using a metal hydriding (MH) alloy as the anode electrocatalyst and manganese dioxide as the cathode electrocatalyst. The high-loading MH and MnO2 electrocatalysts not only gave a satisfactory steady-state power output, but also deliver additional power stored in the charged MH and MnO2 electrodes when the overall cell voltage fell. Moreover, the MH/MnO2 FC can still deliver a certain amount of energy even after the hydrogen and oxygen are shut off. The discharged MH and MnO2 electrodes are recharged by hydrogen and oxygen in the FC when the cell voltage returns to normal levels. This MH/MnO2 alkaline FC performs the same functions as those of a more complex fuel cell/battery hybrid system with lower weight, volume, and cost.