Yulin Deng
Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Title: Low temperature and high efficiency biomass fuel cell and bio-hydrogen production
Biography
Biography: Yulin Deng
Abstract
A novel fuel cell which can directly use native polymeric biomasses, such as starch, cellulose, lignin, and even switchgrass and wood powders will be discussed. This fuel cell combines some features of solar cells, fuel cells, and redox flow batteries. Specifically, an oxidation/reduction ion pair, such as Fe2+/Fe3+, or polyoxomatelate, are used as catalyst to oxidize biomass by either absorbing solar light or heat energy. The power density of the solar-induced hybrid fuel cell powered with raw biomass could reach ~50 mW/cm2. Unlike most cell technologies that are sensitive to impurities, the cell reported in this study is inert to most organic and inorganic contaminants present in the fuels. The fuel cell is completely noble metal free. The similar fuel cell system can also be converted to electrolysis cell for hydrogen production at low temperature using native biomass directly.