Selective oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid in highly efficient polymer electrolyte membrane-direct ethanol fuel cells

The selective conversion of ethanol into potassium acetate with concomitant production of electrical energy has been achieved in both passive and active direct fuel cells containing platinum-free electrodes and an anion-exchange polymer membrane. The power densities supplied by the passive systems at r.t. can be as high as 55 mW cm−2, while the active systems can deliver up to 170 mW cm−2 at 80 °C. Such high values have never been reported for direct ethanol fuel cells with whatsoever electrocatalyst in either alkaline or acidic media.