Engineers from the University of Utah have developed a special type of fuel cell that’s able to convert jet fuel into electricity at room temperature, without the needing to ignite the fuel. According to a study published in the American Chemical Society’s journal ACS Catalysis, the new cell uses an enzyme as a catalyst and is able to power portable electronics and off-grid equipment.
Fuel cells produce electricity through chemical reaction between the fuel and an oxygen-rich source. As long as a continuous flow of fuel is provided, the fuel cell will generate electricity. Nowadays, fuels are becoming increasingly popular sources of power in place of batteries, and are used power fuel-cell vehicles like hydrogen-powered cars.
According to Shelley Minteer, a University of Utah professor of materials science and engineering, and also chemistry, the biggest accomplishment of this resource is that the powerful kerosene-based jet fuel called Jet Propellant-8, can now be used directly in the fuel cell without needing to remove sulfur impurities or operate at a very high temperature. “This work shows that JP-8 and probably others can be used as fuels for low-temperature fuel cells with the right catalysts.” Catalysts are chemicals that speed reactions between other chemicals.
Standard techniques for converting jet fuel into electricity are very inefficient, with roughly only 30 percent of the fuel being successfully converted. This is because the sulfur contained in JP-8 has the tendency of impairing the metal catalysts used to oxidize fuel in traditional cells. However, replacing the metal catalysts with one made of the enzymes alkane monooxygenase and alcohol oxidase allows the fuel cells to operate at room temperature and tolerate the sulfur.
Source: Phys.org
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