An Undergraduate Laboratory Experiment Using a Simple Photoassisted Fuel Cell To Remediate Simulated Wastewater

John Cassidy
School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and FOCAS, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin 8, Ireland
Faiza Touati and Kevin G. McGuigan
Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
J. Chem. Educ., 2007, 84 (2), p 299
DOI: 10.1021/ed084p299
Publication Date (Web): February 1, 2007

Abstract

A carbon electrode coated with a TiO2/PVC composite is used to demonstrate a light-assisted fuel cell. Initially in a dilute solution of formic acid the current in a cyclic voltammetry experiment is shown to be enhanced when the electrode is exposed to a 60 W tungsten bulb. When a similar electrode is linked in a fuel cell configuration along with an air electrode, there is an enhancement of current on exposure to the same light source. Finally the system can be used to mineralize a dilute solution of formic acid, which is used as a model compound for an environmental pollutant.

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Environmental Chemistry

Keywords (Subject):

Electrochemistry
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History

  • Received: August 03, 2009

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