Activated carbon from Water Hyacinth as electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in an alkaline fuel cell

Water Hyacinth is an invasive aquatic plant with an excellent carbon source with heteroatoms. Activated carbon is a viable choice as an electrocatalyst for fuel cell applications. Based on the plant's leaves, stem, and root, we got activated carbons using KOH at 730 °C with N₂. The samples, named WH_LA730, WH _SA730, and WH_RA730, were examined as electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in 0.5 M KOH. The high surface area and nitrogen content in the activated carbon provided a good electrochemical activity. The potential reaction for WH_SA730 was at 0.9 V and 0.85 V for WH_RA730. Both samples showed a promising activated carbon for the alkaline fuel cell compared to WH_LA730.