Metal-free, low-cost, and high-performance membraneless ethanol fuel cell

Author(s)

Ali, Mian A. ; Sedenho, Graziela C. ; Pacheco, Jessica C. ; Iost, Rodrigo M. ; Rahman, Asma ; Hassan, Ayaz ; Cardoso, Daniel R. ; Gomes, Roberto S. ; Crespilho, Frank N.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Power Sources; v. 551, p. 9-pg., 2022-10-08.

Abstract

Renewable energy conversion from biomass in fuel cells can mitigate the imbalance between the carbon sequestration and sustainable energy demands. Ethanol biofuel cells based on NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) as catalyst are suitable alternatives; however, metal-free electrodes are still not effective for achieving a satisfactory power density. We report a membraneless and metal-free ethanol-O2 biofuel cell that is entirely composed of organic and biological molecules. The biofuel cell is based on a redox-active quinone-based catalyst produced by one-pot synthesis that operates efficiently with high power density (264 mW m-2), at mild conditions of pH and room temperature. The cost of this biofuel cell is more than 2.5-fold lower than that of a conventional system with a Pt-based electrocatalyst, potentially enabling cost-effective production of renewable electricity. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/15098-0 - Bioelectrosynthesis of value-added compounds from atmospheric nitrogen and carbon dioxide
• Grantee: Jessica Crivelaro Pacheco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/24485-7 - Structural and dynamic study of redox biomolecules using step-scan infrared spectroscopy
• Grantee: Rodrigo Michelin Iost
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 20/04796-8 - In situ and operando studies of metaloenzymes for energy conversion and fuel bioelectrosynthesis
• Grantee: Graziela Cristina Sedenho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/22214-6 - Towards a convergence of technologies: from sensing and biosensing to information visualization and machine learning for data analysis in clinical diagnosis
• Grantee: Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Junior
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/12053-8 - High performance electrodes applied in organic batteries and in biofuel cell
• Grantee: Frank Nelson Crespilho
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/15333-1 - Bio-photo-electrochemical hybrid cells for solar energy conversion
• Grantee: Frank Nelson Crespilho
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants