Fuel cells improved by adding caffeine to electrodes

According to the team from Chiba University, Japan, the addition of caffeine can enhance the efficiency of the fuel cell, reduce the requirement for excess platinum catalysts, and lead to cheaper and more efficient fuel cells.

In a hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen undergoes oxidation at the anode, producing hydrogen ions and electrons. The ions move through the electrolyte to the cathode, and electrons flow through an external circuit, generating electricity. At the cathode, oxygen combines with the hydrogen ions and electrons, resulting in water as a by-product.

The water reacts with the platinum (Pt) catalyst, forming a layer of platinum hydroxide (PtOH) on the electrode, which obstructs the efficient catalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), leading to energy losses. To maintain efficient operation, fuel cells require a high Pt loading, which increases the costs of fuel cells.  

Now, in a study published in Communications Chemistry, Professor Nagahiro Hoshi, along with Masashi Nakamura, Ryuta Kubo, and Rui Suzuki have found that adding caffeine to certain platinum electrodes can increase the activity of the ORR.