A novel biomass fuel cell using the same anodic and cathodic catalyst to avoid cross-membrane permeation

Biomass waste, a renewable energy source, can be converted into electricity through electrochemical processes. Liquid catalytic fuel cells (LCFCs) have garnered increasing attention due to their ability to utilize complex biomass fuels directly. However, conventional LCFCs face challenges related to the cross-membrane permeation of catalysts, which leads to electrolyte imbalance and cell failure. To address the issue, this study proposed a novel LCFC system using the same catalyst, molybdovanadophosphoric heteropolyacid (PMoV), on both the anode and cathode, effectively mitigating catalyst permeation. Under ambient conditions, the PMoV-LCFC system achieved a maximum power density of 3.39 mW/cm2 using glucose as the fuel, and the system demonstrated stable performance over five days. Notably, cyclic discharge tests using expired bread as fuel further show the system's effectiveness. The TOC degradation rate reached a maximum of 23.36%, and formic acid was the primary intermediate. The PMoV-LCFC system effectively reduced catalyst crossover and maintained stable electrochemical performance, offering new insights for designing biomass fuel cells and significantly contributing to waste management.