A research group led by Professor Seiji Oe of the Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University has succeeded in developing a fuel cell catalyst that uses hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) as fuel through joint research with JNC Co., Ltd.
The platinum (Pt) catalyst of a fuel cell has a problem that it binds (poisons) with a very small amount of carbon monoxide contained in hydrogen as a fuel and the catalytic activity is significantly reduced, and is resistant to carbon monoxide. The development of catalysts has become an important issue in the field of fuel cells.
In this research, we have developed "a new catalyst that combines the functions of H2 enzyme and CO enzyme in nature".Using this catalyst, we found that "a fuel cell is driven by a fuel with a ratio of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a ratio of 50:50."The results of this research have the potential to bring about significant development and spillover effects in the field of fuel cells.
Professor Oe was inspired by two enzymes in nature (H2 enzyme and CO enzyme), and instead of the idea of "protecting the catalyst from CO", "CO is also used as a fuel (electron source) like H2. "I will do it."In addition, because the design is modeled after the natural world, it is environmentally friendly and the reaction was carried out "underwater".
Paper information:[Angewandte Chemie International Edition] One Model, Two Enzymes – Activation of H2 and CO
