Formate: an Energy Storage and Transport Bridge between Carbon Dioxide and a Formate Fuel Cell in a Single Device.
We demonstrate the first device to our knowledge that uses a solar panel to power the electrochemical reduction of dissolved carbon dioxide (carbonate) into formate that is then used in the same device to operate a direct formate fuel cell (DFFC). The electrochemical reduction of carbonate is carried out on a Sn electrode in a reservoir that maintains a constant carbon balance between carbonate and formate. The electron-rich formate species is converted by the DFFC into electrical energy through electron release. The product of DFFC operation is the electron-deficient carbonate species that diffuses back to the reservoir bulk. It is possible to continuously charge the device using alternative energy (e.g., solar) to convert carbonate to formate for on-demand use in the DFFC; the intermittent nature of alternative energy makes this an attractive design. In this work, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept device that performs reduction of carbonate, storage of formate, and operation of a DFFC.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, 92831, USA.
Tracy
T
Vo
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, 92831, USA.
Krutarth
K
Purohit
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, 92831, USA.
Christopher
C
Nguyen
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, 92831, USA.
Brenna
B
Biggs
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, 92831, USA.
Salvador
S
Mayoral
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, 92831, USA. jhaan@fullerton.edu.
John L
JL
Haan
D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002254:Carbonates / Q000737:chemistry; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes; D004579:Electron Transport; D005561:Formates / Q000737:chemistry*
D002254:Carbonates; D005561:Formates; C030544:formic acid; D002245:Carbon Dioxide
carbon dioxide; direct formate fuel cell; formate oxidation; liquid fuel; reduction