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Hydrogen biobattery

17.06.2006

British scientists have replaced platinum in the fuel cell with enzymes.

Typically, a fuel cell has a membrane, on both sides of which there are electrodes coated with a platinum catalyst. Thanks to him, a hydrogen molecule disintegrates on one electrode, and a water molecule gathers on the other. For those microorganisms that live by the oxidation of hydrogen, the same process, thanks to enzymes, goes much easier.

Scientists have long tried to apply this biological method in a fuel cell. Another success in this matter was achieved by the group of Professor Fraser Armstrong from Oxford University. In the design proposed by him, enzymes isolated from a hydrogen-oxidizing microorganism are deposited on two electrodes.

Since enzymes are selective, that is, each of them accelerates a single reaction, there is no need to separate the reacting gases with a special membrane. Namely, its extremely high price makes the fuel cell an expensive pleasure that no one can afford without the help of the state budget.

In the Armstrong element, the electrodes are immersed directly in a vessel filled with air with the addition of a few percent hydrogen. And, as evidenced by the working electronic clock attached to the bioelement, they successfully generate electricity. Microbial enzymes are easy to obtain and much cheaper than platinum.

In addition, carbon monoxide poisoning the platinum catalyst is harmless to them.

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