Concerns about emissions and climate change have expedited research into alternative energy sources and methods. Fuel cells are an alternative energy conversion device of growing interest in the scientific community. Often compared with combustion engines, fuel cells are emerging as a dependable low- to zero-emissions alternative. While combustion engines often lose some energy in the form of heat in the exothermic reaction, fuel cells convert the chemical energy of fuels directly into electrical energy, making them a much more efficient alternative. Among fuel cells, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEM) are of particular interest because they are compact, lightweight, and operate at lower temperatures than other contenders. For this project, we explored the bioelectrochemical regeneration of an enzymatic cofactor coupled to CO2 reduction in a redox flow cell. To do this, a rhodium complex was immobilized onto a carbon paper coated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Combining PEM fuel cell technologies and a redox flow technique, the NADH cofactor was electrochemically regenerated via mediation of the covalently immobilized rhodium complex. The reaction was assessed using cyclic voltammetry and amperometry in the flow reactor.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Himmelberger, Katarina
• Doucette, Katherine

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-032222-144755
• 52746

Keyword

• redox flow cell
• enzymatic cofactor
• bioelectrochemical regeneration

Advisor

• Kmiotek, Stephen J.

Year

• 2022

Sponsor

• ENSIC

Date created

• 2022-03-22

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright