Swiss researchers have recently developed the world’s first formic acid-based fuel cell. Compared with the traditional hydrogen fuel cells that require the use of hydrogen, the formic acid it requires is easier to store and transport. This type of fuel cell is suitable for providing environmentally friendly energy for remote areas.
In the development of environmentally friendly energy, the use of hydrogen as a fuel is a key direction. Hydrogen does not generate pollutants when burned, and it has excellent environmental performance. Therefore, hydrogen fuel cells and other equipment have been developed in the past. However, the problem is that the volumetric energy density of hydrogen is very low. To produce practical energy, the volume of hydrogen needed in the gaseous state is huge, and compression, storage, and transportation of hydrogen are also faced with many difficulties.
Formic acid can be generated by the reaction of hydrogen and carbon dioxide. It can also be released by the chemical reaction. One litter of formic acid can generate 590 liters of hydrogen. Formic acid is liquid under normal conditions, it is easy to store, transport and handle, and the global output is stable. Has been widely used in agriculture, leather, rubber, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland and others recently announced the development of a formic acid-based fuel cell. It consists of two main parts. The first part called HYFORM can use a ruthenium-based catalyst to produce hydrogen from formic acid. The second part is the name. For the PEMFC's fuel cell, use the hydrogen gas from the previous part to generate electricity.
According to reports, this device has a nominal power of 800 watts, which is equivalent to the power required for charging 200 smartphones at the same time.
This device also has the advantages of low maintenance cost and technology scalability, which can be applied to both home and industrial applications. As long as the supply of formic acid remains stable, the fuel cell can operate as an environmentally friendly energy source for a long period of time. The researchers believe that it is suitable for remote areas. Provide environmental energy.
