Among various types of alcohols, ethylene glycol (EG) is one of the most promising candidates for direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs). In this project, a porous anode electrode based on Pt-free Hypermec TM nanocatalystwas preparedfor theevaluation of ethylene glycol(EG) electrooxidation in alkaline media. The morphological characterization and treatment of nano catalysts studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The images showed porous structures for catalysts that create desirable distribution for fule on the catalyst surface. Performance of this electrode and common palladium anode in EG electrooxidation reaction was compared. The electrochemical behaviors of theseelectrodes wereinvestigated by using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. The CVresultsshowedclearlythat the Pt-free Hypermec TM is a better catalyst for EG oxidation reaction than the Pd/C (10% wt),the onset potential at thePt-free Hypermec TM wasabout 80 mV more negative.The current density value obtained for the Pt-free Hypermec TM was77 mA mg -1 metal and for Pd/C (10% wt) was 30 mA mg -1 metal .Therefore,the Pt-free Hypermec TM catalyst hadthe higher catalyticactivity than Pd/C (10% wt) electrocatalyst.The ratio of the forward to the backward current (I f /I b ) was highest for the Pt-free Hypermec TM , indicating better oxidation of the EG and less catalystpoisoning by the products ofoxidation compared to the Pd/C (10% wt). The ratio of the current response of the forward anodic peak (I f ) to their verse anodic peak (I b ) is a measure of the fraction of the catalystsurface which has not been poisoned.The higher value ofI f /I b ,is equivalentto less poisoning of the electrode. Within the error limits, the value ofI f /I b obtained for the Pt-free Hypermec TM (2.36) was comparable to the1.57for Pd/C (10% wt).The resultsof DEGFC with Pt-freeHypermec TM anode catalyst and anion exchange membraneshoweda maximum power density of 17.7 mW cm ?2 , which was higher than Pd/C (10%wt) (only 8.3 mW cm ?2 ) at 25 ? C. the results of fuel cell performance were in consistent with the three electrode experiment results.
