Fuel cells are sustainably cost effective reusable and secure electrochemical cells that convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy via redox reactions. These fuel cells are typically fueled by hydrogen from natural gas and fossil fuels which is a challenge and a threat in our climate still today. The ideal, clean source of hydrogen is water; water splitting is a difficult process that requires a noble-metal catalyst, typically expensive non-reusable platinum to separate the protons and electrons from the hydrogen to generate fuel. Hydrocarbon fuel is a cost on our pockets and our environment. Electricity, water, and heat are the products from clean sourced hydrogen fuel which critically addresses increasing pollution and climate challenges.Catalysts made of inexpensive and abundant natural earth resources are significantly important for a sustainable and economically achievable energy conversion. Polyoxometalates (POMs) are anionic polyatomic molecules comprised of early transition metals that are environmentally friendly, reusable, versatile, and tunable. The highly oxidized transition metals and easily accessible oxygens make POMs excellent redox catalysts. This research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of two POMs, Na10Co4(H2O)2(PW9O34)2 and KNa2[Nb24O72H21]●H2O, both of which exhibit potential for hydrogen electrocatalysis.

Polyoxometalate applications for fuel cell hydrogen catalysis

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.