(June 24, 2012) Engineers
at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) have identified a catalyst that
provides the same level of efficiency in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as the
currently used platinum catalyst, but at 5% of the cost.
Since more
than 60% of the investment in making microbial fuel cells is the cost of
platinum, the discovery may lead to much more affordable energy conversion and
storage devices.
The
material – nitrogen-enriched iron-carbon nanorods – also has the potential to
replace the platinum catalyst used in hydrogen-producing microbial electrolysis
cells (MECs), which use organic matter to generate a possible alternative to
fossil fuels.
“Fuel cells
are capable of directly converting fuel into electricity,” says UWM Professor
Junhong Chen, who created the nanorods and is testing them with Assistant
Professor Zhen (Jason) He. “With fuel cells, electrical power from renewable
energy sources can be delivered where and when required, cleanly, efficiently
and sustainably.”
The
scientists also found that the nanorod catalyst outperformed a graphene-based
alternative being developed elsewhere. In fact, the pair tested the material
against two other contenders to replace platinum and found the nanorods’
performance consistently superior over a six-month period.