Progress Towards Direct Hydrogen Peroxide Fuel Cells (DHPFCs) as an Energy Storage Concept

Abstract

This review introduces the concept of direct H2O2 fuel cells and discusses the merits of these systems in comparison with other ‘clean-energy’ fuels. Through electrochemical methods, H2O2 fuel can be generated from environmentally benign energy sources such as wind and solar. It also produces only water and oxygen when it is utilised in a direct H2O2 fuel cell, making it a fully reversible system. The electrochemical methods for H2O2 production are discussed here as well as the recent research aimed at increasing the efficiency and power of direct H2O2 fuel cells.

Photoelectrocatalytic H2 and H2O2 Production Using Visible-Light-Absorbing Photoanodes

“…The most realistic route for energy production using H 2 O 2 as fuel is via hydrogen peroxide fuel cells. Oxidation and reduction of H 2 O 2 in a fuel cell can be represented by the following reactions [1,2]:…”

“…The total energy generated by means of reactions (1-3) corresponds to 117 kJ/mol H 2 O 2 [2,3]. Obviously, hydrogen peroxide is an interesting energy storage material, and its consumption is also 2 of 14 benign, since it results in the release of only oxygen and water.…”

Photoelectrocatalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Production Using Nanoparticulate WO3 as Photocatalyst and Glycerol or Ethanol as Sacrificial Agents

“…Besides its well-known pharmaceutical applications, it has been studied as an oxidant in the water cleaning processes, either alone or in the presence of Fe ions in Fenton processes [1][2][3]. Hydrogen peroxide is also studied as a fuel for fuel cells [4][5][6]. Consumption of H 2 O 2 in a fuel cell is benign for the environment because it only releases oxygen and water.…”

“…These are overall reactions including several steps. For example, Reaction (3) is the first step of Reaction (5). The overall cell reactions can be obtained by combining (half-cell) Reaction (4) with each of the (half-cell) Reactions (5) or (6):…”

RACI and Academy of Science Awards 2017–18

“…Here, H 2 O 2 acts as both the fuel and the oxidant, and the DHPFCs can be designed to be membraneless and fully reversible. [7] Michael Kassiou (The University of Sydney) was the winner of the 2017 Adrien Albert Award of the Medicinal Chemistry Division of the RACI. [8] His paper deals with analogues of the 7azaindole DYRK1A -a novel target for EGFR-dependent glioblastoma of promise in cancer therapy.…”