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Urea‐Based Fuel Cells and Electrocatalysts for Urea Oxidation
Author(s) -
Xu Wei,
Wu Zucheng,
Tao Shanwen
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
energy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2194-4296
pISSN - 2194-4288
DOI - 10.1002/ente.201600185
Subject(s) - urea , chemistry , microbial fuel cell , anode , overpotential , hydrazine (antidepressant) , fuel cells , hydrogen fuel , pollutant , environmental chemistry , waste management , inorganic chemistry , electrochemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , hydrogen , chromatography , electrode , engineering
Urea is a new member of hydrogen‐storage materials for low‐temperature fuel cells. It avoids issues of toxicity and safety compared to NH 3 and hydrazine. The main limitation of urea‐based fuel cells is their relatively low power densities due to the sluggish anode reactions. Rapid advances in nanocatalysts used for urea electro‐oxidation have been achieved in lowering overpotential and improving activity. Urine, as a natural resource of urea, is also an environmental pollutant. Most technologies of treating urine with self‐generation electricity are based on microbial fuel cells. However, microbes are only able to utilize the organic substrates rather than urea in urine. Chemical fuel cells in contrast directly oxidize urea to nitrogen gas, removing it from urine. Thus, urea‐based fuel cells have been used as an alternative method to treat urine. In this Minireview, the progress in urea‐based fuel cells and electrocatalysts for urea oxidation is reviewed.