Aerobic, copper-mediated oxidation of alkaline formaldehyde to fuel-cell grade hydrogen and formate: mechanism and applications.

Beyond nanopowders: Hydrogen and formate are produced through the oxidation of alkaline HCHO by CuO microparticles. The Cu microparticles formed in the purely electrochemical reduction of CuO preserve the morphology of CuO (left-hand image: CuO; right-hand image: Cu formed in the reduction of CuO by alkaline HCHO) and can be permeated by a gas. They react more efficiently than Cu nanoparticles with air to restore CuO.