Chemspy chemistry news and views

Bringing down the cost of fuel cells - Researchers have identified a catalyst that provides the same level of efficiency in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as the currently used platinum catalyst, but at 5% of the cost. The discovery may lead to much more affordable energy conversion and storage devices. The material – nitrogen-enriched iron-carbon nanorods – also has the potential to replace the platinum catalyst used in hydrogen-producing microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), which use organic matter to generate a possible alternative to fossil fuels. Reference: 'Nitrogen-Enriched Core-Shell Structured Fe/Fe3C-C Nanorods as Advanced Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction,' Adv Mater. 2012 Mar 15;24(11):1399-404. doi: 10.1002/adma.201104392.