Hydrolysis of borohydride is one of the major problems leading to a decrease in the fuel efficiency of direct borohydride fuel cell (DBFC). Co3O4 was first used as DBFC anode catalyst and to reduce the hydrolysis reaction by silver plating treatment. Co3O4 was prepared by using CoCl2·6H2O and silvered on its surface by silver mirror reaction to obtain Co3O4@Ag. The physics properties of the catalyst were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD)

scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The electrochemical properties were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)

chronoamperometry (CA) and fuel cell test. The characterizations demonstrate that Ag was successfully introduced into the catalyst system by silver mirror reaction and account for 2% of the Co3O4@Ag catalytic material. Electrochemical tests showed that Co3O4@Ag had a higher electro-catalytic activity than Co3O4. The maximum power density (55 mW·cm-2) and specific capacity (971 mA·h·g-1) of fuel cell

which was fabricated by using Co3O4@Ag as anode catalyst

increased by 44.7% and 32.1%

respectively than Co3O4 at room temperature. The performance of anode catalyst was significantly increased. Ag reflected the synergistic catalytic effect with Co3O4 when it inhibited the hydrolysis reaction.