Alkaline fuel cells (AFCs) have been around for long time, for example, they were used in in the U.S. space program to produce electrical energy and water on-board spacecraft. AFCs are attractive due their ability to use non-precious metals as catalysts while operating at lower temperatures, thereby offering a cost effective system. However, their susceptibility to CO2 poisoning has often held back their wider use. The development of polymer membrane to transport the hydroxide anions (Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells (AMFCs) or Hydroxide Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (HEMFC)) has managed to lower the susceptibility to CO2 poisoning compared to the traditional liquid-electrolyte AFCs, but CO2 poisoning is still considered a key challenge for their commercial development.
In an exciting turn, researchers for the University of Delaware have turned this problem to their advantage….
A New Age for Alkaline Fuel Cells?
