Formic acid fuel cells and catalysts
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsRichard I. Masel, Robert Larsen, Su Yun Ha
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Abstract
An exemplary fuel cell of the invention includes a formic acid fuel solution in communication with an anode (12, 134), an oxidizer in communication with a cathode (16, 135) electrically linked to the anode, and an anode catalyst that includes Pd. An exemplary formic acid fuel cell membrane electrode assembly (130) includes a proton-conducting membrane (131) having opposing first (132) and second surfaces (133), a cathode catalyst on the second membrane surface, and an anode catalyst including Pd on the first surface.
Claims39
A formic acid fuel cell comprising:
- an anode and a cathode, and an electrolyte sandwiched between said anode and said cathode;
- an oxidizer in communication with said cathode;
- a formic acid fuel solution in communication with said anode and containing at least about 25% (wt) formic acid;
- and,
- an anode catalyst comprising Pd.
A formic acid fuel cell comprising:
- an anode and a cathode, an electrolyte sandwiched between said anode and said cathode;
- an oxidizer in communication with said cathode;
- a formic acid fuel solution having a concentration of at least about 25% formic acid in communication with said anode;
- and,
- an anode catalyst comprising Pd nanoparticles supported on carbon.
A formic acid fuel cell membrane electrode assembly comprising:
- a proton-conducting membrane having opposing first and second surfaces;
- a cathode catalyst on said second membrane surface;
- an anode catalyst including Pd on said first surface;
- and
- a formic acid fuel solution of at least about 25% (wt) in communication with said anode catalyst layer.
An electro-oxidation catalyst for a direct organic acid fuel cell comprising Pd nanoparticles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.