H(2)-CO(2) polymer electrolyte fuel cell that generates power while evolving CH(4) at the Pt(0.8)Ru(0.2)/C cathode

Generating electric power using CO(2) as a reactant is challenging because the electroreduction of CO(2) usually requires a large overpotential. Herein, we report the design and development of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell driven by feeding H(2) and CO(2) to the anode (Pt/C) and cathode (Pt(0.8)Ru(0.2)/C), respectively, based on their theoretical electrode potentials. Pt–Ru/C is a promising electrocatalysts for CO(2) reduction at a low overpotential; consequently, CH(4) is continuously produced through CO(2) reduction with an enhanced faradaic efficiency (18.2%) and without an overpotential (at 0.20 V vs. RHE) was achieved when dilute CO(2) is fed at a cell temperature of 40 °C. Significantly, the cell generated electric power (0.14 mW cm(−2)) while simultaneously yielding CH(4) at 86.3 μmol g(−1) h(−1). These results show that a H(2)-CO(2) fuel cell is a promising technology for promoting the carbon capture and utilization (CCU) strategy.