Viologen-based Oxidation of Carbohydrate Fuels for a New Type of Low-Temperature Fuel Cell

首席研究员：Dean R WheelerProposal No：1034547智慧价值拟议的研究将进行基础性研究，以开发使用碳水化合物燃料的新型燃料电池，碳水化合物燃料是一种以前被认为不适用于将电化学转换为电能的原料。这一过程是基于一种新研究的低成本有机催化剂，即紫精，在适当的条件下，可以在低温下将碳水化合物(如葡萄糖、木糖)有效地氧化为二氧化碳并产生电子。由于碳水化合物是通过植物生物质中的纤维素成分水解而获得的，因此拟议的直接碳水化合物燃料电池(DCFC)有可能成为一种可再生的便携式电能来源。开发dcFCS需要克服一些技术障碍，并更好地了解紫精的电催化剂的作用。为了解决这些障碍，拟议的研究计划将制定策略，将紫精催化剂固定在阳极表面，阐明反应过程，表征反应动力学和阳极上的传输现象。还将研究与燃料电池的阴极和膜组件相关的工艺。广泛影响直接碳水化合物燃料电池的成功开发将有助于新技术的发展，以满足未来的能源需求，特别是在生物质丰富但电力不足的偏远地区。拟议的研究活动将为本科生和研究生提供学习经验，并为未来燃料电池和替代能源技术的职业生涯提供培训。外展工作包括通过动手演示套件向K-12学生和教师介绍燃料电池和电动汽车技术。

Principal Investigator: Dean R WheelerProposal No: 1034547Intellectual MeritThe proposed research will conduct fundamental studies to enable the development of new type of fuel cell that will operate on carbohydrate fuels, a feedstock previously considered impractical for electrochemical conversion to electricity. The process is based on a newly-investigated class of low-cost organic catalysts known as viologens that can, under the proper conditions, efficiently oxidize carbohydrates (e.g. glucose, xylose) to carbon dioxide at low temperature and generate electrons. Since carbohydrates are obtained by hydrolysis of the cellulosic components of plant biomass, the proposed direct carbohydrate fuel cell (DCFC) has the potential to be a renewable source of portable electrical energy. Development of DCFCs requires overcoming a number of technical barriers and gaining improved understanding of the action of the viologen electrocatalyst. To address these barriers, the proposed research plan will develop strategies to immobilize the viologen catalyst on anode surfaces, elucidate reaction processes, characterize the reaction kinetics and transport phenomena at the anode. Processes associated with the cathode and membrane components of the fuel cell will also be studiedBroader ImpactsSuccessful development of a direct carbohydrate fuel cell will contribute to new technologies for providing future energy needs, particularly in remote regions where biomass is plentiful but electrical power is not. The proposed research activities will provide learning experiences for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as training for future careers in fuel cell and alternative energy technologies. Outreach efforts include introducing K-12 students and teachers to fuel cells and electric vehicle technologies through hands on demo kits.