Evaluation of Solid Ammonium Formate Oxidation for PEM Fuel Cells

We have first attempted to develop high performance and safe fuel cells using ammonium formate as solid (powder) fuel. This solid fuel has potential to realize safe portability compared with liquid fuel such as methanol from the viewpoint of toxicity and flammability. In order to make use of some advantages of ammonium formate, we investigate oxidation characteristics of ammonium formate toward Pt electrode. From cyclic voltammograms, ammonium formate has high activity to be oxidized with a Pt electrode. We have found that oxidation of ammonium formate can be improved by additional Ir catalysts with Pt catalysts. There is a high potentiality that ammonium formate is useful as solid (powder) fuel for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. This new fuel will be driving force of developing safe fuel cells for PEM.