Potential of a Novel Sugar-Air Flow Battery

Seeking renewable energy resources for sustainable power generation has received substantial interests recently amid the concerns over fossil fuel depletion and environmental degradation. Various types of sugar as sources of energy for most biological systems and as food for many mammals appear attractive as sources of power in electrochemical energy conversion and storage as well. We recently [1,2] showed that direct conversion of reducing sugars to electrical power is possible without complicated catalysis and cell design. A rudimental cell configuration in a typical laboratory set up can provide sufficient power at ambient temperature and pressure.