Ion transport is a common cell function in biology and many molecules facilitate signal cascades through cell membranes and across specific molecular structures. Nanotechnology and chemical engineering inspired by biological systems will produce more efficient fuel cells with the possibility of including molecules that optimize the process to extend structural and system integrity. Could this type of design eliminate free radicals and do free radicals like "superoxide anion radical" occur in these types of systems?
Based on this article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6644771/
and these guys:
https://www.siemens-energy.com/global/en/offerings/renewable-energy/hydrogen-solutions.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImLmHq-a1_QIVBzatBh1LaA0KEAAYBCAAEgJRqvD_BwE
Yes to inspiration, no to complete elimination of radicals. The hang-up about bio-inspired materials/processes like properly designed metal chaperones that can accomplish some sort of active transport is the massive amount of current vs. biological processes - tissue damage occurs between 1 and 2 A/m² and typical currents are far lower, while fuel cells & electrolyzers only find viability in the range of 10,000-30,000 A/m².
One reason Platinum is used is to facilitate 4-electron chemistry in the cathode and thereby limit radical formation, and people design membranes to limit hydrogen crossover, which causes a direct reaction that will form peroxides and peroxy radicals. H· is the most prevalent radical species in operando, HO· and HOO· also exist in meaningful quantities. There have been some good EPR studies and a nice review Deborah Jones was involved in not too long ago, but there are quite a number of papers on this. Electron transport inspired ionomers will definitely be made and organic/organometallic radical scrubbers are definitely getting more sophisticated and interesting.
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