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Fuel Cells Application of Atomically Dispersed Metallic Materials
Published in Wei Yan, Xifei Li, Shuhui Sun, Xueliang Sun, Jiujun Zhang, Atomically Dispersed Metallic Materials for Electrochemical Energy Technologies, 2023
As a result, developing improved preparation technologies to regulate the amount and kind of metal dimers is critical. In addition to developing improved ORR catalysts, achieving RDE-level ORR high-performance of SACs/DACs in practical PEMFCs is critical, but it is fraught with difficulties. The combination of catalyst activity and electrode technology is critical for MEA performance. Many published research have attempted to enhance the RDE-level ORR performance of SACs/DACs in recent decades, but less has been spent on investigating MEA, particularly M–N–C generated PEMFCs. As a result, the following suggestions should be considered: (i) developing in-situ characterization techniques for monitoring the water/heat distribution, and surface/interface among Nafion membrane, CCL, and GDL; (ii) establishing in-situ characterization methods for monitoring the water/heat distribution, as well as the surface/interface between the Nafion membrane, the CCL, and the GDL; (iii) To provide a perspective for optimizing ORR catalysts, the structure–activity relationship in MEA should be systematically studied by combining theoretical simulation and advanced characterization; (iv) the stability and durability of SACs/DACs in PEMFCs during practical operation must be further strengthened. It’s worth noting that, in addition to the M–Nx sites, pyridine nitrogen is also an active species, but it’s susceptible to protonation in an acidic media, resulting in performance deterioration.139
Nanotechnology Impact on the Automotive Industry
Published in Kaufui V. Wong, Nanotechnology and Energy, 2017
Kaufui V. Wong, Patrick Andrew Paddon
The operation rate of platinum can be further improved by replacing conventional carbon powders in PEMFCs with dual-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs), which eliminates the issue of carbon particle isolation in the electrode layer. The assembly composes of an anode, cathode, and PEM and is often referred to as a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). With the use of hydrogen (H2) as fuel, it becomes oxidized in the anode, while oxygen is reduced in the cathode, generating the transfer of protons and electrons from the anode to the cathode through the PEM. Water is produced on the cathode; hence why the hydrophobic layer of carbon particles is so pertinent to ensure reactant gases can reach the catalyst. The Pt Ru/DWNT anode catalyst produced a 63% improvement in the direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) best performance compared to carbon black. Specific and mass activity of platinum also saw further improvement from the use of DWNTs, presumably due to the high electrical conductivity and surface area, as well as small diameter. Orienting the CNT film may also pose benefits in the nature of improved electrical conductivity due to zero energy loss when electrons transfer along the tubes opposed to across, increased gas permeability, and enhanced mass transport from superhydrophobicity [80].
A critical review of fuel cell commercialization and its application in desalination
Published in Hacene Mahmoudi, Noreddine Ghaffour, Mattheus Goosen, Jochen Bundschuh, Renewable Energy Technologies for Water Desalination, 2017
Yousef Alyousef, Mattheus Goosen, Youssef Elakwah
Debe (2012) reported that fuel cells powered by hydrogen from secure and renewable sources are the ideal solution for non-polluting vehicles, and extensive research and development on all aspects of this technology over the past two decades has provided prototype cars. However, the author noted that taking the step towards successful commercialization requires oxygen reduction electrocatalysts, which are crucial components at the heart of fuel cells (as shown in Fig. 9.2). In addition, these catalyst systems will need to be highly durable, fault-tolerant and amenable to high-volume production with high yields and exceptional quality. Debe (2012) reasoned that a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly (MEA) must satisfy three major criteria: cost, performance and durability. The same challenges were noted in the DOE (2012) report. Debe (2012) articulated that while the cathode oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and anode hydrogen oxidation reaction both occur on the surfaces of platinum-based catalysts, the cathode ORR is more than six orders of magnitude slower than the anode hydrogen oxidation reaction and thus limits performance. This means that virtually all research and development activity is directed towards this aspect. The majority of current MEA catalysts are centered on platinum (Pt) nanoparticles dispersed on carbon black supports. The negative aspect of this approach is the high economic price involved.
Piecewise temperature dependent electrical equivalent modeling of PEM fuel cell for power conditioning unit design using fuzzy clustering and hybrid optimization
Published in Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, 2021
Phani Teja Bankupalli, Subhojit Ghosh, Lalit Kumar Sahu, Atul Kumar Dwivedi
The development of the temperature-dependent model of PEMFC, Nexa®1200 fuel cell module has been considered, which has an output power of 1.2 kW and 36 cells in series. Experiment has been carried out on the test setup in which Nexa®1200 fuel cell module is integrated with Nexa®OSC software for control and data acquisition. The output voltage level varies from 36 V at no load to 18 V at the full load under ideal conditions. Dehumidified hydrogen gas with a minimum purity of 5.0 (99.999%) with is used for operation of the stack. The ambient air is humidified through a built-in humidity exchanger to maintain membrane saturation and prolong the life of the membrane. The electrodes, catalyst and membrane form the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA). The excess water is discharged from the system as vapors (Gibson 2019). The module is air cooled. The experiment was conducted by varying the load current from no load to rated current, i.e., 60A. The stack temperature, operating pressure, stack current and voltage were obtained through a (Data Acquisition) DAQ involving communication between the fuel cell system and the software. The laboratory test set-up for DAQ is shown in Figure 3(a). During the experiment, the external pressure from the hydrogen supply has been monitored to be constant and the operating pressure has been monitored at 0.317 bar from the DAQ. To obtain the required temperature data for piecewise electrical equivalent model, the temperature over the stack is measured at a single point through a temperature sensor placed approximately 3–5 cm as depicted in Figure 3(b).
Direct methanol fuel cells for automotive applications: a review
Published in International Journal of Ambient Energy, 2022
G. Amba Prasad Rao, K. Jayasimha Reddy, R. Meenakshi Reddy, K. Madhu Murthy, G. Naga Srinivasulu
Among a class of fuel cells, the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell has been serving the purpose of energy storage for automotive applications. It typically consists of electrode plates (Anode and Cathode) and a solid membrane is sandwiched between these two electrode plates. The electrodes and the membrane together called the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) is an essential and heart of a typical PEMFC. The splitting of electrons from hydrogen, upon electrochemical reactions, takes place in the MEA. Hydrogen (or methanol) is fed on the anode side, whereas oxidant, mostly air, in air-breathing fuel cell, is supplied at the cathode. Diffusion phenomena take place through electrodes on either side.
Numerical investigation of 3D rhombus designed PEMFC on the cell performance
Published in International Journal of Green Energy, 2021
Ali Jabbary, Sadra Rostami Arnesa, Hossein Samanipour, Nima Ahmadi
A distinguished purpose of PEM fuel cells is in advanced transportation manufacturing. In recent years, some leading automotive corporations have established enduring examination via PEM fuel cells’ expansion for utilization in fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) (Ehsani et al. 2018). A PEM fuel cell’s essential component is the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA), which includes a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched within the anode and cathode terminals. The electrodes have the Catalyst Layer (CL), the Microporous Layer (MPL), and the Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL). The MEA stands within two Bipolar Plates (BP), where gas flow channels (GFC) are grooved or assigned (Wang et al. 2019c).