Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Vol.42, No.6, 419-425, 2012
Bio-inspired chemical hydrogen storage and discharge as a source of electrical energy
Reversible bio-inspired chemical hydrogen storage systems accumulate electrical energy in the form of electrons and proton ions located on biomolecules or bio-like storage molecules. Electro-active biomolecules (EAB) in Yeast media show such behavior: 2e(-) + 2H(+) + EAB ((aq)) (+) a double dagger dagger EABH/H ((aq)) (+) , also electro-active Methylene Blue (MB): 2e(-) + 2H(+) + MB ((aq)) (+) a double dagger dagger MBH/H ((aq)) (+) . The power characteristics of microbial fuel cell stacks equipped with such bio-inspired hydrogen storage systems were examined. E. coli cultures charged these bio-inspired separate chemical hydrogen storage units up to E = 0.50 +/- A 0.06 V; cell potentials increased proportionally in serial double, triple, and quadruple hydrogen storage stacks up to E (OCV) = 1.98 V; the maximum power densities that were obtained improved proportionally with stack length by an increment of 1.4. The bio-inspired chemical hydrogen storage principle is of great interest for application in low-cost batteries that store renewable energy.