In this article from Science Daily, Gerald Watt and other researchers from BYU have developed a fuel cell that uses glucose (C6 H12 O6) and other carbohydrates to procure electricity. Carboyhradates are used as the primary fuel source in most organisms because of their high energy output per size. Scientists have tried to copy this method of energy generation but needed a way to extract electrons off of the glucose molecule so they could be used in an electrode. Strangely enough the solution turned out to be a common herbicide. This is extremely beneficial to researchers in this field as in contrast to sugar based fuel cells, hydrogen fuel cells require platinum as a catalyst, which is more expensive. So far Watt and his colleagues have been able to achieve a 29% conversion rate and are hoping to improve this to make the process more commercially viable. I found this article interesting as it provides another example of a potentially common source of alternative energy. While it may not produce any more energy than hydrogen fuel cells, the use of relatively basic materials may in the long run prove more cost effective.
Another interesting note is that Gerald Watt’s great great uncle was steam engine inventor James Watt (small world).
Posted by Anthony Burger
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That's very interesting. I did a research project on hybrid vehicles last year for my English class and the price for a hybrid is just too much for many people to pay, so by commercializing what you are doing would be amazing for the conservation of the Earth
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