Patent ID: 7241521

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a first source to supply hydrogen; a second source to supply hydrogen peroxide; a fuel cell, including: an anode subassembly coupled to the first source, the anode subassembly including an anode with a first catalyst and a proton exchange membrane to convert at least a portion of molecular hydrogen from the first source into hydrogen ions, the proton exchange membrane being selective to the passage of hydrogen ions therethrough relative top molecular hydrogen; a cathode subassembly coupled to the source of hydrogen peroxide, the cathode subassembly including a cathode with a second catalyst and an ion-selective arrangement to convert at least a portion of liquid hydrogen peroxide from the second source into hydroxyl ions, said ion-selective arrangement comprising an ion-selective membrane and a molecular sieve layer, said ion-selective membrane being selective to the passage of hydroxyl ions therethrough relative to hydrogen peroxide molecules; and a reaction region separating the anode subassembly and the cathode subassembly and being positioned between the proton exchange membrane and the ion selective-arrangement to receive hydrogen ions from the anode subassembly and hydroxyl ions from the cathode subassembly, wherein the fuel cell is effective to generate an electric potential between the anode and the cathode to provide electrical power by reaction of the hydrogen ions and the hydroxyl ions when in the reaction region.