CO 2 ‐Free Formaldehyde Electro‐Reforming Fuel Cell
ABSTRACT Conventional electrochemical synthesis is often hampered by steep energy demands and catalyst degradation, limiting both efficiency and durability. Here we introduce a hybrid alkali/acid formaldehyde‐to‐hydrogen fuel cell (h‐A/AFHFC) that transcends these limitations by coupling alkaline formaldehyde oxidation conversion with acidic oxygen reduction. A columnar branched AgCu catalyst drives the h‐A/AFHFC to a striking 2.0 V output and peak power density of 482 mW cm −2 , maintaining robust operation for over 110 h. Beyond electricity, the device leverages the exceptionally low oxidation potential of formaldehyde and its single‐electron dehydrogenation pathway to co‐produce hydrogen and formate in a *CO‐free, CO 2 ‐free electrochemical process, reformulating the role of fuel cells. Each kilogram of hydrogen is inherently paired with 46.0 kg of formate and 33.2 kWh of electricity, offering a rare convergence of clean energy and high‐value chemical synthesis. This strategy extends to gaseous formaldehyde and diverse aldehydes, enabling integrated energy‐chemical platforms for sustainability.
Authors
- Lazar Z. Rakočević (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6199-8087)
- Yingyi Zeng
- Zhenhai Wen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2340-9525)
- Svetlana Štrbac (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6081-0203)
- Fen Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2349-5336)
- Junxiang Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3047-0030)
- Zhiwen Lu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0897-2386)
- Kai Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3035-6545)
Institutions
- University of Belgrade (RS)
- Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Energy Materials
- Published
- 2026-09-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.71611
- Primary Topic
- CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00