Originally published February 14 2005
Iron may replace platinum in fuel cells, allowing electricity production to be achieved with less expensive metals
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Most modern fuel cells require expensive metals, such as platinum, in order to create electricity. However, researchers are reporting that iron-sulphur compounds can be effective. This can significantly reduce the cost of the materials necessary for the construction of fuel cells and, through that, reduce the cost of the fuel cells themselves.
In conventional hydrogen fuel cells the rapid interconversion of protons and electrons to hydrogen requires catalysis by expensive metals, usually platinum.
In the living world enzymes catalyze this same reaction at extraordinary rates using abundant metals.
Tard et al. now report the chemical synthesis of the iron--sulphur structure at the heart of the hydrogenase protein.
The resulting iron--sulphur framework functions as an electrocatalyst for proton reduction, a potentially important step towards new materials to replace platinum in the anodes of fuel cells.
Synthetic chemistry: Making a natural fuel cell MARCETTA YORK DARENSBOURG The synthetic assembly of the active centre of hydrogen-producing enzymes adds to our understanding of their structure and function --- and could produce new and useful materials that mimic these enzymes.
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