Propane-oxygen fuel cell

Applications are varied, from catalysis of organic and inorganic reactions to electron transfer to and from molecules of biological interest. For example, it has been shown that ruthenium(IV) immobilized inside PVP catalyses organic oxidations such as that of propan-2-ol to acetone19. The electroreduction of oxygen (important in fuel cells, Section 15.10) is catalysed by metalloporphyrins and metallophthalocyanines20. The... 

In addition to the H2-O2 system, a nnmber of other fuel cells have been developed. Among these is the propane-oxygen fnel cell. The half-cell reactions are... 

Most important in these processes is an active cathode. In most cases finely divided platinum is used for this purpose. Unsupported platinum, particularly the one reduced from Adams catalyst, and carbon-supported platinum electrocatalysts are effective in reducing the amount of platinum required for a given amount of power from a hydrocarbon fuel cell. A propane-oxygen fuel cell, which uses 10 mg Pt per cm supported on carbon can deliver about 35 mW cm using a hydrofluoric acid electrolyte at 105... 

The selective dehydrogenation of short-chain hydrocarbons can be achieved at higher temperatures. Ethane is dehydrogenated at 700 °C at a fuel cell current of 252mAcm" in the presence of oxygen to ethene with 10.6% conversion and 96.9% selectivity . Propane is converted in good yield to propene in a lithium iodide melt at 465 °C at 1-2 A between carbon electrodes and 12 V cell voltage . 

Example The maximum electrical work obtainable at 1 bar and 25°C by burning one mole of propane in a fuel cell with excess oxygen according to the equation... 

It is proposed to develop a fuel cell that runs directly on propane (CsHg g) at a propane stoichiometry (XCsHg) of 2.5 and a cathode oxygen stoichiometry (A.,) of 2 (note the cathode is running on air, 79% N2, 21% O2 by volume). In the laboratory, the cell operates at 0.3 V at a current density of 0.1 A/cm. The superficial active area of the cell is 25 cm. The anode electrochemical reaction is... 

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