A Direct CO Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

Abstract

A good source of energy: The reformation of hydrocarbons generates CO as well as H2. Despite its high reducing activity, CO is not suitable as a fuel in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) because it is a strong poison for the Pt catalyst used as the anode. A new fuel cell has now been developed with a rhodium octaethylporphyrin ([Rh(oep)]) anode catalyst that uses neat CO as a fuel, and delivers high performance (see graph).

“Grafting-from” polymerization for uniformly bulk modification of pre-existing polymer materials via a supercritical-fluid route

“…Among them, radiation-induced graft polymerization of pre-existing polymer materials is well known for its merits and potential in modifying the surface properties of pre-existing polymer materials without changing their inherent properties [2]. In sharp contrast to most focuses on surface modification, little attention has been paid to uniformly bulk graft modification of pre-existing polymer materials, which has great potential application in preparing impact-resistant plastics, thermoplastic elastomers, and polymer electrolyte membranes suitable for uses in fuel cells, batteries and sensors [15,16].…”

CO electro-oxidation by carbon-supported Rh tetraphenylporphyrins that have o-methyl groups on meso-phenyl substituents

“…Rh porphyrins can oxidize CO at low overpotentials [8][9][10][11]. The best catalyst we identified in our studies can catalyze CO oxidation even below 0.1 V vs. RHE at 25°C [10].…”

“…Against this background, we studied Rh porphyrin-based CO oxidation catalysts to counteract the problem of CO [8][9][10]. Rh porphyrins can oxidize CO at low overpotentials [8][9][10][11].…”

Polymers for New Types of Fuel Cells

“…Previously, it is demonstrated that carbon-supported Rh porphyrin catalysts have strong activity for the electrooxidation of several small molecules (CO, glucose, and oxalic acid) [33][34][35][36]. The reduction of hydrolysis on the anode catalyst is important for the improvement of DBFCs.…”