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Solar-induced direct biomass-to-electricity hybrid fuel cell using polyoxometalates as photocatalyst and charge carrier

Author

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  • Wei Liu

    (School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and IPST at Georgia Tech, Georgia Institute of Technology
    College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Chemometrics and Chemical Biological Sensing Technologies, Ministry of Education, Hunan University)

  • Wei Mu

    (School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and IPST at Georgia Tech, Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Mengjie Liu

    (School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and IPST at Georgia Tech, Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Xiaodan Zhang

    (School of Materials Science and Engineering and IPST at Georgia Tech, Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Hongli Cai

    (School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and IPST at Georgia Tech, Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Yulin Deng

    (School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and IPST at Georgia Tech, Georgia Institute of Technology)

Abstract

The current polymer-exchange membrane fuel cell technology cannot directly use biomass as fuel. Here we present a solar-induced hybrid fuel cell that is directly powered with natural polymeric biomasses, such as starch, cellulose, lignin, and even switchgrass and wood powders. The fuel cell uses polyoxometalates as the photocatalyst and charge carrier to generate electricity at low temperature. This solar-induced hybrid fuel cell combines some features of solar cells, fuel cells and redox flow batteries. The power density of the solar-induced hybrid fuel cell powered by cellulose reaches 0.72 mW cm−2, which is almost 100 times higher than cellulose-based microbial fuel cells and is close to that of the best microbial fuel cells reported in literature. Unlike most cell technologies that are sensitive to impurities, the cell reported in this study is inert to most organic and inorganic contaminants present in the fuels.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Liu & Wei Mu & Mengjie Liu & Xiaodan Zhang & Hongli Cai & Yulin Deng, 2014. "Solar-induced direct biomass-to-electricity hybrid fuel cell using polyoxometalates as photocatalyst and charge carrier," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4208
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4208
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    Cited by:

    1. Tong Liu, 2022. "Glucose Fuel Cells and Membranes: A Brief Overview and Literature Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Yuri Choi & Rashmi Mehrotra & Sang-Hak Lee & Trang Vu Thien Nguyen & Inhui Lee & Jiyeong Kim & Hwa-Young Yang & Hyeonmyeong Oh & Hyunwoo Kim & Jae-Won Lee & Yong Hwan Kim & Sung-Yeon Jang & Ji-Wook Ja, 2022. "Bias-free solar hydrogen production at 19.8 mA cm−2 using perovskite photocathode and lignocellulosic biomass," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Maria G. Savvidou & Pavlos K. Pandis & Diomi Mamma & Georgia Sourkouni & Christos Argirusis, 2022. "Organic Waste Substrates for Bioenergy Production via Microbial Fuel Cells: A Key Point Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-53, August.
    4. Quayson, Emmanuel & Amoah, Jerome & Hama, Shinji & Kondo, Akihiko & Ogino, Chiaki, 2020. "Immobilized lipases for biodiesel production: Current and future greening opportunities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    5. Ouyang, Denghao & Wang, Fangqian & Hong, Jinpeng & Gao, Daihong & Zhao, Xuebing, 2021. "Ferricyanide and vanadyl (V) mediated electron transfer for converting lignin to electricity by liquid flow fuel cell with power density reaching 200 mW/cm2," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).

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