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A Membrane‐Free Neutral pH Formate Fuel Cell Enabled by a Selective Nickel Sulfide Oxygen Reduction Catalyst
Author(s) -
Yan Bing,
Concan Nolan M.,
Milshtein Jarrod D.,
Brushett Fikile R.,
Surendranath Yogesh
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201702578
Subject(s) - catalysis , formate , anode , cathode , membrane , electrolyte , inorganic chemistry , nickel , platinum , chemistry , sulfide , oxygen , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , palladium , materials science , chemical engineering , electrode , organic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Polymer electrolyte membranes employed in contemporary fuel cells severely limit device design and restrict catalyst choice, but are essential for preventing short‐circuiting reactions at unselective anode and cathode catalysts. Herein, we report that nickel sulfide Ni 3 S 2 is a highly selective catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in the presence of 1.0 m formate. We combine this selective cathode with a carbon‐supported palladium (Pd/C) anode to establish a membrane‐free, room‐temperature formate fuel cell that operates under benign neutral pH conditions. Proof‐of‐concept cells display open circuit voltages of approximately 0.7 V and peak power values greater than 1 mW cm −2 , significantly outperforming the identical device employing an unselective platinum (Pt) cathode. The work establishes the power of selective catalysis to enable versatile membrane‐free fuel cells.