Fuel cell

• US 20040214053A1
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Isis Innovation Limited
• Original Assignee: Isis Innovation Limited
• Inventors: Armstrong, Fraser
• Application Number:
  US10/487,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20040214053A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/13
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/8684 Negative electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/90 Selection of catalytic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell and a method of operating said fuel cell, which fuel cell comprises an anode having a catalyst adsorbed thereon, said catalyst comprising a hydrogenase which is in direct electronic contact with the anode.

Claims

1. A method of operating a fuel cell, which method comprises oxidising hydrogen at an anode having a catalyst adsorbed thereon, said catalyst comprising a hydrogenase which is in direct electronic contact with the anode.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogenase contains an [Ni—

Fe] active site.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the hydrogenase is Allochromatium vinosum [Ni—

Fe] hydrogenase.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst is coated on the anode using a polycationic substance as adhesive.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said polycationic substance is polymixin.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least 50% of the hydrogenase is in its active form.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the partial pressure of hydrogen at the anode is greater than 1×

10⁴ Pa.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is maintained at a temperature of at least 30EC.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the current produced by the fuel cell is greater than 1 mA per cm² of surface area of said electrode.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least a part of the surface of the anode is made of graphite.

11. A fuel cell comprising an anode having a catalyst adsorbed thereon, said catalyst being as defined in claim 1.

12. A fuel cell according to claim 11 wherein at least a part of the surface of the anode is made of graphite.