Photocatalytic hydrogen production for PEMFC supply: A new issue

• We directly combine photocatalytic hydrogen production reactor with a fuel cell.
• The best photocatalyst for the coupling is 1 wt% Pt/TiO2.
• The best current density obtained is 8.1 mA cm−2 (0.202 A) with a the best power density of 5 mW cm−2 (0.123 W).
• We do not observe any poisoning of the PEM fuel cell after 100 h of coupling.

Photocatalysis was used to produce hydrogen via alcohol dehydrogenation with a Pt/TiO2 catalyst. An experiment of coupling was realized between a photocatalytic hydrogen production reactor and an air-breathing PEM fuel cell. The photocatalytic hydrogen consumption rate achieved an optimum value for a loading of 1 wt% of platinum. Three different alcohols were compared. Their hydrogen production efficiency and the maximum current for the PEM fuel cell were compared and were ranged as: methanol ≥ ethanol > 2-propanol. The photocatalytic production was successfully used to feed the PEM fuel cell and reached a current of 0.202 A corresponding to a current density of 8.1 mA cm−2. No poisoning effect occurred for 100 h of working.