Research groups at the University of Yamanashi and Waseda University have succeeded for the first time in the world in developing an all-polymer fuel cell that can be repeatedly charged and discharged by incorporating a plastic sheet that can absorb and desorb hydrogen.
The "solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC)", which has already been put into practical use for automobile drive power supplies and household power supplies, is a fuel cell that uses a proton conductive polymer film as an electrolyte, and is compared with other fuel cells. It has low operating temperature, is easy to maintain because it is an all-solid-state battery, is compact and lightweight, and is expected to become more widespread in the future.However, the current hydrogen storage and supply system in PEFC uses a high-pressure hydrogen tank for automobile applications and a steam reforming reaction device for city gas for household use, and there are still problems with portability, safety, and energy costs. rice field.
In 2016, the researchers developed a plastic sheet that can reversibly absorb and desorb hydrogen.This time, by incorporating this as a hydrogen storage and supply medium for PEFC inside the cell, we succeeded for the first time in the world in demonstrating the principle of an "all-polymer rechargeable fuel cell" that can be repeatedly charged and discharged.
It has been confirmed that the developed rechargeable fuel cell can generate electricity for up to 1 minutes at a constant current density (2mA / cm8) and can be charged and discharged repeatedly for 50 cycles.Since it does not require a hydrogen tank or reforming reaction device, is safe, lightweight, and has excellent portability, it may be applicable as a power source for mobile devices such as mobile phones and small electronic devices.
This result is still under development, and there are issues of power generation time and voltage loss. In the future, we will work on improving the performance, optimization, and durability of each component.By pursuing this method, it is expected to realize a next-generation energy storage device that anyone can safely carry anywhere and use it over and over again.
Paper information:[Communications Chemistry] Rechargeable proton exchange membrane fuel cell containing an intrinsic hydrogen storage polymer
