US 12,473,657 B2
Light-driven fuel cell, cathode catalyst for same, anode catalyst for same, and methanol production method comprising converting methane into methanol
Takahiro Matsumoto, Fukuoka (JP); Masato Murakami, Fukuoka (JP); Tatsuya Nakano, Fukuoka (JP); Ryo Nishikawa, Fukuoka (JP); Kento Kimura, Fukuoka (JP); and Kou Sameshima, Fukuoka (JP)
Assigned to JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY, Kawaguchi (JP)
Appl. No. 17/923,625
Filed by JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY, Kawaguchi (JP)
PCT Filed May 13, 2021, PCT No. PCT/JP2021/018285
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 7, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/235326, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 25, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-089162 (JP), filed on May 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0193489 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. C25B 11/087 (2021.01); C25B 3/07 (2021.01); C25B 3/21 (2021.01); C25B 3/23 (2021.01); C25B 9/19 (2021.01); C25B 11/081 (2021.01); C25B 11/085 (2021.01); C25B 13/04 (2021.01); H01M 8/22 (2006.01); H01M 16/00 (2006.01)
CPC C25B 11/087 (2021.01) [C25B 3/07 (2021.01); C25B 3/21 (2021.01); C25B 3/23 (2021.01); C25B 9/19 (2021.01); C25B 11/081 (2021.01); C25B 11/085 (2021.01); C25B 13/04 (2013.01); H01M 8/22 (2013.01); H01M 16/003 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light-driven fuel cell comprising a cathode, an anode, and a proton-permeable membrane between the cathode and the anode,
wherein the anode comprises a photocatalyst for anaerobic methane oxidation reaction, and when the anode is supplied with methane and water and is irradiated with light, methanol, protons and electrons are generated by anaerobic methane oxidation reaction from the methane and the water supplied to the anode; the protons pass through the proton-permeable membrane and move to the cathode; and the electrons move to the cathode via an external circuit,
and wherein the cathode comprises a photocatalyst for aerobic methane oxidation reaction, and when the cathode is supplied with methane and oxygen and is irradiated with light, methanol and water are generated by aerobic methane oxidation reaction from the methane and the oxygen supplied to the cathode and the protons and the electrons moved from the anode.