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A Sodium‐Ion‐Conducting Direct Formate Fuel Cell: Generating Electricity and Producing Base
Author(s) -
Li Yinshi,
Feng Ying,
Sun Xianda,
He Yaling
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201701816
Subject(s) - formate , electrochemistry , alkali metal , chemistry , sodium , base (topology) , sodium formate , ion , hydrolysis , ion exchange , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , electrode , organic chemistry , catalysis , mathematical analysis , mathematics , engineering
A barrier that limits the development of the conventional cation‐exchange membrane direct liquid fuel cells (CEM‐DLFCs) is that the CEM‐DLFCs need additional base to offer both alkaline environment and charge carriers. Herein, we propose a Na + ‐conducting direct formate fuel cell (Na‐DFFC) that is operated in the absence of added base. A proof‐of‐concept Na‐DFFC yields a peak power density of 33 mW cm −2 at 60 °C, mainly because the hydrolysis of sodium formate provides enough OH − and Na + ions, proving the conceptual feasibility. Moreover, contrary to the conventional chlor‐alkali process, this Na‐DFFC enables to generate electricity and produce NaOH simultaneously without polluting the environment. The Na‐DFFC runs stably during 13 hours of continuous operation at a constant current of 10 mA, along with a theoretical production of 195 mg NaOH. This work presents a new type of electrochemical conversion device that possesses a wide range of potential applications.