Chemical fuel cell reactor as the ultimate green reactor

How can one maximize the energy output of a reaction, and the reaction output from a fuel cell? These seemingly similar questions led us to the concept of Chemical Fuel Cell Reactor. By expressing chemical reactions in half reactions, this allows one to perform the primary reaction on one half of the fuel cell such that the Gibbs free energy of reaction can be utilized in the other half to produce complementary chemical product with optional harnessing of electricity. Unlike electrochemical synthesis, no external electrical energy input shall be required since the net reaction is downhill by design. The chemical fuel cell reactor is only beginning to gain traction in view of the rapid advancements in electrocatalysts (and perhaps electrolyte membranes) design in the recent years. We envision that the chemical fuel cell reactors are capable of enhancing sustainability as well as the circular economy of future chemical processes.

Automated summary

The concept of Chemical Fuel Cell Reactor utilizes the Gibbs free energy of chemical reactions to generate electricity and chemical products without the need for external electrical energy input. With advancements in electrocatalysts design, this technology is gaining attention and has the potential to enhance sustainability and circular economy of chemical processes.