Researchers developing enzymes to replace platinum in hydrogen fuel cells

10th October 2008

Chemists at the University of Oxford have developed a hydrogen fuel cell which uses enzymes to catalyse the reactions on electrodes, producing electricity.

Current fuel cells use expensive precious metal catalysts, such as platinum to drive the fuel cell reaction.  In 2003 Dr Kylie Vincent and Professor Fraser Armstrong were awarded the Carbon Trust Innovation Award for their proposal that enzymes, from bacteria, which convert hydrogen to water and enzymes called laccases, from fungi, that convert oxygen to water, could be used to replace platinum catalysts at both electrodes.

“Enzymes are extremely good electrocatalysts,” said Armstrong.  “The activity of hydrogenase enzymes is at least as high as platinum catalysts, and laccase catalysts are also more efficient.”

Vincent added: “Enzymes are also much more selective than traditional catalysts, meaning that enzymatic fuel cells can run on a safe mixture of low-level hydrogen and oxygen, rather than running on separate supplies of these gases.” This was demonstrated recently.

”Enzyme-powered fuel cells would have some big advantages, in that they would be biodegradeable. The cost of the production of the enzymes could eventually be brought down so that they are cheaper than conventional catalysts.”

The team is aiming to develop fuel cells for niche applications, such as self- powered sensors. “A commercial product will require a number of further improvements, including attaching the enzymes permanently and in a fully stable manner on the electrodes.  The structures of enzymes could also be optimised for particular applications,” said Prof Armstrong.

The researchers are working with the University’s technology transfer company, Oxford University Innovation, to commercialise the invention. A patent has been filed, and Isis welcomes discussions with interested commercial partners.

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