Abstract: Anode half-cells for the electrocatalytic oxidation of a liquid or gaseous fuel or other reductant are disclosed, along with electrochemical cells that include such half-cells. The anode half-cells include redox mediator/heterogeneous redox catalyst pairs within an electrolyte solution that is also in contact with an electrode. The electrode is not in direct contact with the heterogeneous catalyst. The redox mediator must include at least one carbon atom and be capable of transferring or accepting electrons and protons while undergoing reduction or oxidation. In operation, the fuel or other reductant is oxidized and the redox mediator is reduced at the heterogeneous catalyst. The reduced form of the redox mediator can then migrate to the electrode, where it is converted back to its oxidized form, which can then migrate back to the heterogeneous catalyst, where the cycle is repeated.

Abstract: Cathodic half-cells for the electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen are disclosed. Within the half-cell, a redox catalyst containing one or more non-Pt transition metals attached to a solid support (i.e., a “heterogenized” non-Pt transition metal-containing catalyst) is separate from and not in direct contact with the cathode electrode. In use, both the cathode electrode and the redox catalyst are in contact with an electrolyte solution that also contains a redox mediator. The oxidized form of the redox mediator is reduced at the cathode electrode, and the resulting reduced form migrates to the redox catalyst, where the mediator is oxidized back to its oxidized form, while oxygen is simultaneously reduced. The oxidized form of the redox mediator then migrates back to the cathode electrode, where the process is repeated. The disclosed cathodic half-cells can be used in combination with an anode half-cell in a variety of different electrochemical cells, such as in fuel cells or in electrosynthetic cells.

Abstract: Anode half-cells for the electrocatalytic oxidation of a liquid or gaseous fuel or other reductant are disclosed, along with electrochemical cells that include such half-cells. The anode half-cells include redox mediator/heterogeneous redox catalyst pairs within an electrolyte solution that is also in contact with an electrode. The electrode is not in direct contact with the heterogeneous catalyst. The redox mediator must include at least one carbon atom and be capable of transferring or accepting electrons and protons while undergoing reduction or oxidation. In operation, the fuel or other reductant is oxidized and the redox mediator is reduced at the heterogeneous catalyst. The reduced form of the redox mediator can then migrate to the electrode, where it is converted back to its oxidized form, which can then migrate back to the heterogeneous catalyst, where the cycle is repeated.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems for the electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen, having redox mediator/redox catalyst pairs and an electrolyte solution in contact with an electrode. The redox mediator is included in the electrolyte solution, and the redox catalyst may be included in the electrolyte solution, or alternatively, may be in contact with the electrolyte solution. In one form a cobalt redox catalyst is used with a quinone redox mediator. In another form a nitrogen oxide redox catalyst is used with a nitroxyl type redox mediator. The systems can be used in electrochemical cells wherein neither the anode nor the cathode comprise an expensive metal such as platinum.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems for the electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen, having redox mediator/redox catalyst pairs and an electrolyte solution in contact with an electrode. The redox mediator is included in the electrolyte solution, and the redox catalyst may be included in the electrolyte solution, or alternatively, may be in contact with the electrolyte solution. In one form a cobalt redox catalyst is used with a quinone redox mediator. In another form a nitrogen oxide redox catalyst is used with a nitroxyl type redox mediator. The systems can be used in electrochemical cells wherein neither the anode nor the cathode comprise an expensive metal such as platinum.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems for the electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen, having redox mediator/redox catalyst pairs and an electrolyte solution in contact with an electrode. The redox mediator is included in the electrolyte solution, and the redox catalyst may be included in the electrolyte solution, or alternatively, may be in contact with the electrolyte solution. In one form a cobalt redox catalyst is used with a quinone redox mediator. In another form a nitrogen oxide redox catalyst is used with a nitroxyl type redox mediator. The systems can be used in electrochemical cells wherein neither the anode nor the cathode comprise an expensive metal such as platinum.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems for the electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen, having redox mediator/redox catalyst pairs and an electrolyte solution in contact with an electrode. The redox mediator is included in the electrolyte solution, and the redox catalyst may be included in the electrolyte solution, or alternatively, may be in contact with the electrolyte solution. In one form a cobalt redox catalyst is used with a quinone redox mediator. In another form a nitrogen oxide redox catalyst is used with a nitroxyl type redox mediator. The systems can be used in electrochemical cells wherein neither the anode nor the cathode comprise an expensive metal such as platinum.