Fuel cells

摘要

The invention concerns the use as a redox a catalyst and/or mediator in a fuel cell catholyte solution of the compound of Formula (I) wherein: X is selected from hydrogen and from various functional groups; R1-8 are independently selected from hydrogen and various functional groups; wherein R1 and X and/or R5 and X may together form an optionally substituted ring structure; wherein R1 and R2 and/or R2 and R3 and/or R3 and R4 and/or R4 and R8 and/or R8 and R7 and/or R7 and R6 and/or R6 and R5 may together form an optionally substituted ring structure; wherein (L) indicates the optional presence of a linking bond or group between the two neighboring aromatic rings of the structure, and when present may form an optionally substituted ring structure with one or both of R4 and R8; and wherein at least one substituent group of the structure is a charge-modifying substituent.;

主权项

1. A fuel cell catholyte solution, comprising:
at least one non-volatile catholyte component; a redox mediator species compound of Formula (I): wherein: X is: wherein each of R9-R13 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and functional groups comprising halogen, hydroxy, amino, protonated amino, imino, nitro, cyano, acyl, acyloxy, sulphate, sulphonyl, sulphinyl, alkylamino, protonated alkylamino, quaternary alkylammonium, carboxy, carboxylic acid, ester, ether, amido, sulphonate, sulphonic acid, sulphonamide, phosphonic acid, phosphonate, phosphonic acid, phosphate, alkylsulphonyl, arylsulphonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylsulphinyl, arylsulphinyl, alkylthio, arylthio, alkyl, alkoxy, oxyester, oxyamido, aryl, arylamino, aryloxy, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, (C2-C5)alkenyl, (C2-C5)alkynyl, azido phenylsulphonyloxy or amino acid conjugates having the formula —CO—W—OH where W is an amino acid and from alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, alkaryl, alkenaryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl groups substituted with one or more of the aforesaid functional groups; and wherein (Sp) is absent or is a spacer group, each of R1-R8 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, amino, protonated amino, imino, nitro, cyano, acyl, acyloxy, sulphate, sulfonyl, sulfinyl, alkyamino, protonated alkylamino, quaternary alkylammonium, carboxy, carboxylic acid, ester, ether, amido, sulfonate, sulfonic acid, sulphonamide, phosphonic acid, phosphonate, phosphate, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, alkylthio, arylthio, alkyl, alkoxy, oxyester, oxyamido, aryl, fused-aryl, arylamino, aryloxy, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, fused-heteroaryl, (C2-C5)alkenyl, (C2-C5)alkynyl, azido, phenylsulfonyloxy, amino acid or combinations thereof; wherein (L) indicates the optional presence of a linking bond or group between neighbouring aromatic rings of the compound of Formula (I); and wherein at least one of R1-R8 and/or X, or at least one substituent group of R1-R8 and/or X of the compound of Formula (I), is a charge-modifying substituent; and a redox catalyst for catalyzing regeneration of the mediator.