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.

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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
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article

CO 2 ‐Free Formaldehyde Electro‐Reforming Fuel Cell

Lazar Z. Rakočević, Yingyi Zeng, Zhenhai Wen, Svetlana Štrbac et al.
Advanced Energy Materials
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
article

CO 2 ‐Free Formaldehyde Electro‐Reforming Fuel Cell

Lazar Z. Rakočević, Yingyi Zeng, Zhenhai Wen, Svetlana Štrbac, Fen Hu, Junxiang Chen, Zhiwen Lu, Kai Chen
article en

Abstract

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.

Advanced Energy Materials
University of Belgrade (RS), Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 29%
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
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CO 2 ‐Free Formaldehyde Electro‐Reforming Fuel Cell — Lazar Z. Rakočević, Yingyi Zeng, et al. · Advanced Energy Materials (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS