Fuel cells can also generate electricity without the need for high temperatures. Engineers at the University of Utah recently developed the first fuel cell that can operate at room temperature. Without igniting fuel, it uses enzymes to generate electricity from jet fuel. This new fuel cell powers handheld electronic devices, off-grid generators and sensors. The study was recently published in the online edition of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, ACS Catalysis.
Fuel cells, mainly through oxygen or other oxidants, redox reaction, the chemical energy in the fuel is converted into electrical energy; as long as the fuel can be continuously added, the fuel cell can continue to provide clean and cheap electrical energy. Batteries have been widely used in electric vehicles and power plants; today, fuel cells are also used to power some buildings, and it can also power fuel cell vehicles such as hydrogen-powered vehicles.
According to a recent report by the physicist organization network, one of the highlights of this research is the direct use of jet fuel JP-8 for fuel cells without removing sulfur impurities or creating a hot working environment. Xue Li Mintil, a senior author of the paper and a professor from the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Utah, said: "Our research shows that only the catalyst, JP-8 or other fuels can be used as fuel for low-temperature fuel cells."
JP-8 is an aviation kerosene fuel used by the US military. It is resistant to high temperatures and cold and can work normally in extreme weather. It is very difficult to convert jet fuel into electrical energy using conventional techniques. The fuel contains sulfur, which is a detriment to the metal catalyst used to oxidize fuel in conventional fuel cells. Moreover, the efficiency of this conversion is not high, and even under optimal conditions, only about 30% of the chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.
In order to break through these limitations, the researchers used JP-8 in an enzyme fuel cell that uses JP-8 as a fuel and uses a biocatalytic polymer as a catalyst. These fuel cells are not only resistant to sulfur but also work at room temperature. Specifically, the enzyme used was composed of an alkane monooxygenase and an alcohol oxidase, and hexane and octane having similar chemical properties and JP-8 were also tested as test fuels. The researchers found that even if sulfur is added to the enzyme fuel cell, it will not reduce its power generation.
In fact, solid oxide fuel cells have used JP-8, but their operating temperature needs to be above 950 degrees Fahrenheit. This study was the first to achieve its use at room temperature. Professor Mintier said that her team has now confirmed that the enzyme catalyst works, and the next step will be to focus on how to design the fuel cell and how to improve its power conversion efficiency.
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