Formation of a Palladium Catalyst Layer Using an Anionic Surfactant and Subsequent Fabrication of a Glucose Fuel Cell

A laboratory experiment is proposed, wherein students fabricate a glucose fuel cell, use it to operate a solar motor, and investigate its performance. First, a fuel cell catalyst is prepared by plating palladium on two nickel wire meshes using an aqueous palladium chloride solution containing sodium dodecyl sulfate, an anionic surfactant that helps in achieving uniform palladium plating. Next, the fuel cell is fabricated by sequentially placing a potassium hydroxide solution containing glucose, a nickel wire mesh with the palladium catalyst, a cellophane membrane, and another nickel wire mesh with the palladium catalyst in a plastic container. In this experiment, a glucose fuel cell is easily fabricated in approximately 30 min, which is extremely short compared with the time required using conventional fabrication processes. This experiment is ideal for high school students, because it affords them not only hands-on experience on fabricating a glucose fuel cell but also an opportunity to learn the principles of plating and the reducing properties of glucose.