Microscopic view of phenanthroline molecules interacting with a platinum electrode in a formic acid fuel cell.

Unlock the Power of Phenanthroline: A Surprising Catalyst for Clean Energy

Samir D’Costa in Tech & Innovation September 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how 1,10-Phenanthroline, a common chemical compound, is revolutionizing formic acid fuel cells and paving the way for a greener future."

In the quest for sustainable energy solutions, direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs) have emerged as a promising alternative for powering portable electronic devices. Formic acid boasts several advantages, including its non-toxic nature, minimal crossover flux, and high theoretical open-circuit potential, making it an ideal candidate for clean energy applications. However, the efficiency and durability of DFAFCs hinge on the catalysts used to facilitate the electro-oxidation of formic acid.

Traditionally, platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd)-based catalysts have been the workhorses of DFAFC technology. While Pd catalysts excel at directly converting formic acid into carbon dioxide (CO2) through a desired dehydrogenation pathway, their instability in acidic environments poses a significant challenge. Pt catalysts, on the other hand, exhibit greater durability but suffer from a dual-pathway mechanism that includes a less desirable dehydration step, leading to the formation of carbon monoxide (CO), which poisons the catalyst and hinders its performance.

Now, a groundbreaking study introduces 1,10-Phenanthroline (Phen), a readily available chemical compound, as a game-changing promoter for formic acid electro-oxidation. This innovative approach not only enhances the electrocatalytic activity and durability of Pt catalysts but also redirects the reaction pathway to favor the desired dehydrogenation step, effectively eliminating CO poisoning and unlocking the full potential of DFAFCs.

The Science Behind Phenanthroline's Catalytic Power

Microscopic view of phenanthroline molecules interacting with a platinum electrode in a formic acid fuel cell.

The research, conducted by a team of scientists, revealed that modifying Pt electrodes with Phen significantly improves their ability to electro-oxidize formic acid. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and CO-stripping tests confirmed that Phen-modified Pt electrodes exhibit remarkable enhancements in both electrocatalytic activity and durability. What's even more intriguing is that the electro-oxidation of formic acid on these modified electrodes primarily follows the dehydrogenation pathway.

Here's how Phen works its magic: By adsorbing onto the Pt electrode surface, Phen effectively blocks the sites where CO would normally bind, preventing catalyst poisoning. This redirection of the reaction pathway ensures that formic acid is efficiently converted into CO2, maximizing the fuel cell's performance. The results speak for themselves: Phen modification leads to a current density of 4.14 mA cm-2 at 0.45 V, a staggering 9.9 times higher than that of bare Pt electrodes.

Key findings of the study include:

Phen significantly enhances electrocatalytic activity and durability for formic acid electro-oxidation (EOFA).
Phen modification eliminates CO adsorption on the electrode, preventing catalyst poisoning.
Phen-modified Pt electrodes primarily follow the desired dehydrogenation step in EOFA.
The enhanced performance is attributed to the sole dehydrogenation pathway for EOFA on Phen-modified Pt electrodes.

Furthermore, the study revealed that the Phen modification process isn't instantaneous. The electrode's performance improves over several cycles as Phen molecules gradually adsorb onto the Pt surface. This observation highlights the dynamic nature of the modification process and underscores the importance of allowing sufficient time for Phen to fully interact with the electrode.

A Promising Future for Formic Acid Fuel Cells

The discovery of Phen as a highly effective promoter for formic acid electro-oxidation opens up new avenues for advancing DFAFC technology. By mitigating CO poisoning and enhancing catalyst durability, Phen modification offers a cost-effective and practical approach to improving the performance and longevity of formic acid fuel cells. As the demand for clean and sustainable energy solutions continues to grow, Phen-modified Pt electrodes hold immense potential for powering a wide range of portable electronic devices and contributing to a greener future.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2018.10.017, Alternate LINK

Title: 1, 10-Phenanthroline: A New Highly Effective Promoter For Formic Acid Electro-Oxidation

Subject: Condensed Matter Physics

Journal: Materials Chemistry and Physics

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Zhaomei Liu, Lei Tian, Shaobo Xi

Published: 2019-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

Why are direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs) considered a promising alternative for clean energy, and how does 1,10-Phenanthroline (Phen) fit into this picture?

Direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs) present a compelling path toward clean energy, especially for powering portable devices, because formic acid itself offers key advantages: it's non-toxic, exhibits minimal crossover flux, and has a high theoretical open-circuit potential. While platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) have been central to DFAFC technology, they each have drawbacks. The advent of 1,10-Phenanthroline (Phen) addresses these limitations, making DFAFCs more viable.

What are the primary limitations of platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) catalysts in direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs)?

Platinum (Pt) catalysts, while durable, tend to produce carbon monoxide (CO) through a dehydration step, which poisons the catalyst and reduces performance. Palladium (Pd) catalysts are effective at converting formic acid into carbon dioxide (CO2) via dehydrogenation but lack stability in acidic conditions. These issues limit the efficiency and lifespan of direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs).

How does 1,10-Phenanthroline (Phen) modify the electro-oxidation process of formic acid to prevent catalyst poisoning?

1,10-Phenanthroline (Phen) acts as a promoter by adsorbing onto the platinum (Pt) electrode surface, specifically blocking the sites where carbon monoxide (CO) would typically bind. This prevents catalyst poisoning and redirects the reaction pathway, ensuring formic acid is converted into carbon dioxide (CO2) through dehydrogenation. This leads to a significantly improved fuel cell performance with enhanced electrocatalytic activity and durability.

What are the key performance improvements observed when using 1,10-Phenanthroline (Phen)-modified platinum (Pt) electrodes in direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs)?

The use of 1,10-Phenanthroline (Phen) significantly enhances the electrocatalytic activity and durability of platinum (Pt) electrodes in direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). This is achieved by promoting the desired dehydrogenation pathway for formic acid electro-oxidation (EOFA), which eliminates carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Consequently, Phen-modified Pt electrodes exhibit substantially higher current densities compared to bare Pt electrodes, paving the way for more efficient and long-lasting fuel cells.

How does the dynamic nature of the 1,10-Phenanthroline (Phen) modification process influence the performance of platinum (Pt) electrodes in formic acid electro-oxidation (EOFA)?

The gradual adsorption of 1,10-Phenanthroline (Phen) molecules onto the platinum (Pt) surface isn't instantaneous; it dynamically improves the electrode's performance over successive cycles. This underscores the need to allow sufficient time for Phen to fully interact with the electrode surface, ensuring optimal electrocatalytic activity in formic acid electro-oxidation (EOFA). The dynamic nature of this modification process emphasizes the importance of understanding the interaction between Phen and the electrode material for maximizing fuel cell performance.