Engineers identify alternative catalyst for microbial fuel cells

Since more than 60 per cent 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.



According to a statement, 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,’ said UWM Prof Junhong Chen, who created the nanorods and is testing them with Assistant Prof Zhen 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. The pair reportedly tested the material against two other contenders to replace platinum and found the nanorods’ performance consistently superior over a six-month period.