Jet-Fueled Electricity at Room Temperature (Fuel Cell that Can Run without High Heat)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://unews.utah.edu/news_releases/jet-fueled-electricity-at-room-temperature/

[font face=Serif][font size=5]Jet-Fueled Electricity at Room Temperature[/font]

[font size=4]Utah Engineers Create Fuel Cell that Can Run without High Heat[/font]

[font size=3]Nov. 5, 2014 – University of Utah engineers developed the first room-temperature fuel cell that uses enzymes to help jet fuel produce electricity without needing to ignite the fuel. These new fuel cells can be used to power portable electronics, off-grid power and sensors.

A study of the new cells appears online today in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Catalysis.

Fuel cells convert energy into electricity through a chemical reaction between a fuel and an oxygen-rich source such as air. If a continuous flow of fuel is provided, a fuel cell can generate electricity cleanly and cheaply. While batteries are used commonly to power electric cars and generators, fuel cells also now serve as power generators in some buildings, or to power fuel-cell vehicles such as prototype hydrogen-powered cars.

“The major advance in this research is the ability to use Jet Propellant-8 directly in a fuel cell without having to remove sulfur impurities or operate at very high temperature,” says the study’s senior author, Shelley Minteer, a University of Utah professor of materials science and engineering, and also chemistry. “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.

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[madokie]

1. The way forward is clear

and its though research that we'll get there. Yes this is still using fossil fuels but this shows that we can get there if we try hard enough. I don't envision this being the end game but I do see this as a step in the right direction. We've but scratched the surface on this quest of producing our energy.

[drm604]

2. I'm pretty sure this would produce CO2.

So if it uses fossil fuel and produces CO2, how is it a step in the right direction?

[hunter]

3. It seems like a sugar fuel cell out to be possible then.

Maybe high fructose corn syrup would be better used as a fuel for personal electronics than as a food or drink ingredient.