Room-temperature DNA-catalyzed hydrogen fuel cell

摘要

Motivated by previous experiences in identifying active reaction zones on plant pheophytins of the so-called semi-derivative morphology, for the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen gas, this current research aimed for similarly suggestive sites within DNA base pairs which exist in all living matters. Verified by the 1 st-principle quantum mechanical simulations and subsequent wet and dry hydrogen fuel cell experiments, the feasibility of room-temperature DNA-catalyzed hydrogen oxidation reaction was unambiguously established. This implies that very low-cost DNA-catalyzed fuel cells, which contain no expensive, CO-sensitive platinum on the negative electrode side, can be put to work under room condition and thus might be practically available in every household in the very near future.