Public Relations Office, Kyushu University
6-10-1 Hakozaki Higashi-ku Fukuoka 812-8581

PRESS RELEASE（ 20 11/ 9/ 6）

TEL:092-642-2106 FAX:092-642-2113
MAIL:koho@jimu.kyushu-u.ac.jp
URL:http://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp	 
Molecular Catalysis in a Fuel Cell(demonstrated 1/25 performance of fuel cell with platinum catalyst)	 
OUTLINE	 
Kyushu University (President Setsuo Arikawa) has successfully “developed fuel cells that use molecularcatalysts for electrodes”. When using the molecular catalyst for a cathode, the performance was 1/25 of fuelcells using a traditional platinum catalyst. A summary of the research results will be released in the online
version of Angewandte Chemie International Edition.	 
This research was conducted by Professor Seiji Ogo of Kyushu University and his research group on the Itocampus of Kyushu University and at Fukuoka Industry–Academia Symphonicity as part of research by Kyushu
University’s “Carbon-Neutral Energy Research Institute (I2CNER, Director Petros SOFRONIS)”, one of six
research institutes that comprise the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI Program)established by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Science and Technology, the Global COE Program(Program Leader Nobuo KIMIZUKA), “Science for Future Molecular Systems”, and the Basic Research
Programs CREST Type, “Development of the foundation for Nano-Interface Technology (Supervisor Seiji
SHINKAI)” from Japan Science and Technology Agency. 	 	 PRESS RELEASE
The press briefing will be held as follows;
Time & Date:
Venue:
Speaker:

1:30 pm – (approx. 30 minutes), September 7th, 2011 (Thursday)
Meeting Room, Big Orange, Ito Campus, Kyushu University(744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka)
Seiji Ogo, Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate School of Engineering
Kyushu University	  After briefing, the development site of the molecular fuel cells located at Fukuoka Industry–Academia
Symphonicity (203-1 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka) will be introduced to those who are interested. (approx. 30minutes)■ BACKGROUND
Traditionally, a platinum unit and alloy have been used as electrode catalysts for fuel cells. However, platinum isboth expensive and exhaustible, and difficult to control its catalytic power. Therefore, the development of an electrodecatalyst, which is inexpensive and easy to control the catalytic power, has been a desired goal.
Professor Seiji Ogo of Kyushu University and his research group have already succeeded in “A DinuclearNi(µ-H)Ru Complex Derived from H2” (Note 1, press release 2007/04/25) and “Extraction of Electrons from H2 with aNiIRuI Catalyst (“Ogo Catalyst”, Fig. 1)” that extracts electrons from hydrogen in water, at normal temperature andunder ordinary pressure (Note 2, press release issued on August 9, 2008). The Ogo Catalyst is the world’s firstmolecular catalyst that severs hydrogen via heterolytic cleavage and extracts electrons. Because of this achievement,
it is expected that fuel cells will be developed by using Ogo Catalyst as an electrode catalyst.

■ CONTENT

Recently, the research group lead by Professor Seiji Ogo of Kyushu University succeeded in developing the basictechnology for fuel cells with a nickel-ruthenium molecular catalyst (Ogo Catalyst, Fig. 1) as an electrode catalyst.
When compared to a traditional fuel cell that uses a platinum catalyst for both the cathode and anode (Note 3), the useof the Ogo Catalyst showed a performance of 1/25 when used for cathode, 1/100 for anode and 1/600 for both anodeand cathode (Fig. 2).

■ EFFECT
Because this newly-developed fuel cell uses molecules as an electrode catalyst, it is easy to visualize the mechanismof the chemical reaction within a cell using analytical equipment in a laboratory environment (Fig. 3). Based on theobserved reaction mechanism, it makes it possible to promptly develop various molecular catalysts with different
properties, and a breakthrough for fuel cell’s capabilities is expected. Also, the basic concept of fuel cells using thedeveloped molecular catalyst can be applied to future technologies in various areas.	 
■ FUTURE DEVELOPMENT	  Continuing efforts will be made to improve the molecular catalyst (Ogo Catalyst) and develop “molecular fuel cells”
with the same ability as platinum fuel cells.

■ INQUIRIES
Seiji Ogo
Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate School of Engineering Kyusyu University
TEL：092-802-2818	  FAX：092-802-2823
E-mail：ogolab@mail.cstm.kyushu-u.ac.jp■ PUBLICATION
Title：Molecular Catalysis in a Fuel Cell
Authors：Takahiro Matsumoto, Kyoungmok Kim, and Seiji Ogo
Journal：Angewandte Chemie International Edition
DOI：10.1002/anie.201104498	 CONTACTMs. Juri MIZUE
Public Relations Office, Kyushu University
TEL：092-642-2106	  FAX：092-642-2113

■ GLOSSARY(Note 1)
In 2007, the research group of Prof. Seiji Ogo of Kyushu University succeeded in “A Dinuclear Ni(µ-H)Ru
Complex Derived from H2” (press release 2007/04/25).	 	 
(Note 2)
In 2008, the research group of Prof. Seiji Ogo of Kyushu University succeeded in “Extraction of Electrons from H2
with a NiIRuI Catalyst (Ogo Catalyst, Fig. 1). This research showed the mechanism that extracts electrons fromhydrogen in water, at normal temperature and under ordinary pressure differs substantially from a 2 (two)-electronsystem mechanism (1) which has been proposed for the traditional fuel cells (anode) and hydrogenase. This is a
4 (four)-electron system (2) that no one has ever imagined possible.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 (Note 3)	 	 
Conceptual Diagram of Fuel Cell	 ■ SUPPORTING FIGURES	 
Fig. 1. Ni(µ-H)Ru molecular catalyst (Ogo Catalyst) used as electrode catalyst for fuel cell	 	 Fig. 2.	 	 
Electric power generated by fuel cell with Ogo Catalyst

Fig. 3. Visualization of reaction mechanism (image diagram)
Selected for the cover page of “ Angewandte Chemie International Edition”