Hydrogen Peroxide used as a Solar Fuel in One‐Compartment Fuel Cells

Abstract

Clean and highly efficient production of solar fuels as well as effective methods to store solar fuels have long been sought to solve global energy and environmental issues. Among solar fuels such as gaseous hydrogen and carbon monoxide, aqueous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an ideal chemical for energy storage, because endothermic H2O2 decomposition produces only water and oxygen. In addition, H2O2 can be transported in plastic containers with a high energy density. H2O2 can be converted into electricity by using H2O2 fuel cells without a membrane and composed of an anode and a cathode, and they can selectively catalyze H2O2 oxidation or reduction. The one‐compartment structure without a membrane is more promising to develop low‐costing fuel cells than a two‐compartment structure with expensive membranes. This article provides a focused review of recent developments and future perspectives of H2O2 fuel cells without membranes, combined with H2O2 production from seawater and dioxygen in the air by utilizing solar energy.

Mechanisms of Two‐Electron versus Four‐Electron Reduction of Dioxygen Catalyzed by Earth‐Abundant Metal Complexes

“…(2)] . H 2 O 2 can be used as a liquid fuel in one‐compartment H 2 O 2 fuel cells . The E 0 value of the two‐electron/two‐proton reduction of O 2 [0.68 V vs. SHE in Eq.…”

High Performance Reduction of H2O2 with an Electron Transport Decaheme Cytochrome on a Porous ITO Electrode

“…Several studies have proposed the direct electrocatalytic disproportionation of H 2 O 2 on the cathode and anode in a fuel cell. 7,8 Fukuzumi and co-workers studied the use of different types of iron catalysts for the fabrication of cathodes in H 2 O 2 fuel cells in water. 9,10 …”

Fuel Production from Seawater and Fuel Cells Using Seawater

“…[104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112] Furthermore, ao ne-compartment configuration is possible for H 2 O 2 fuel cells, which is structurally much simpler and cheaper than two-compartment hydrogen fuel cells with expensive membranes. [24][25][26]113] Efficient photocatalytic production of H 2 O 2 from seawater and O 2 in the air was performed in at wo-compartment photoelectrochemical cell, composed of mesoporous WO 3 supported on af luorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate (m-WO 3 / FTO) as ap hotocatalyst for H 2 Oo xidation and ac obalt chlorin complexs upported on ac arbon paper ([Co II (Ch)]/CP) as an electrocatalyst for the selectivet wo-electron reduction of O 2 , [114,115] as shown in Figure 12. [116] The photoirradiation of m-WO 3 /FTO with as olar simulator (1 sun = AM 1.5G) in the anode cell resulted in formation of H 2 O 2 in the cathode cell of the two-compartment photoelectrochemical configuration with no externalb ias potentialb eing applied.…”

“…[24] The effectso fa nolytea nd the catholyte concentrations and the pH of the anolyte were examined for an H 2 S/H 2 O 2 fuel cell. [124] An increasei nt he solution pH resulted in an increase in HS À concentrationo ft he anolyte, leading to generation of the higherc ell power.…”

“…(1)],b yh ydrolysis of Mg in seawater [Eq. (2)], [24] by decomposition of H 2 Si nB lack Sea deep water [Eq. (5)] [24][25][26] is demonstrated as ap roof of concept for the onsite production and use of renewable and sustainable energy.…”