Although, the basic concept of a fuel cell is quite simple, creating new designs and optimizing their performance takes serious work and a mastery of several technical areas. PEM Fuel Cell Modeling ...and Simulation Using Matlab, provides design engineers and researchers with a valuable tool for understanding and overcoming barriers to designing and building the next generation of PEM Fuel Cells. With this book, engineers can test components and verify designs in the development phase, saving both time and money. Easy to read and understand, this book provides design and modelling tips for fuel cell components such as: modelling proton exchange structure, catalyst layers, gas diffusion, fuel distribution structures, fuel cell stacks and fuel cell plant. This book includes design advice and MATLAB and FEMLAB codes for Fuel Cell types such as: polymer electrolyte, direct methanol and solid oxide fuel cells. This book also includes types for one, two and three dimensional modeling and two-phase flow phenomena and microfluidics.
FeN4 moieties embedded in partially graphitized carbon are the most efficient platinum group metal free active sites for the oxygen reduction reaction in acidic proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells. ...However, their formation mechanisms have remained elusive for decades because the Fe−N bond formation process always convolutes with uncontrolled carbonization and nitrogen doping during high‐temperature treatment. Here, we elucidate the FeN4 site formation mechanisms through hosting Fe ions into a nitrogen‐doped carbon followed by a controlled thermal activation. Among the studied hosts, the ZIF‐8‐derived nitrogen‐doped carbon is an ideal model with well‐defined nitrogen doping and porosity. This approach is able to deconvolute Fe−N bond formation from complex carbonization and nitrogen doping, which correlates Fe−N bond properties with the activity and stability of FeN4 sites as a function of the thermal activation temperature.
FeN4 moieties embedded in partially graphitized carbon are efficient active sites for the oxygen reduction reaction in acidic proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells. The mechanisms leading to the formation of these active sites were studied by introducing Fe ions into a nitrogen‐doped carbon followed by controlled thermal activation.
Due to their environmental sustainability and high efficiency, proton‐exchange‐membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are expected to be an essential type of energy source for electric vehicles, energy ...generation, and the space industry in the coming decades. Here, the recent developments regarding shape‐controlled nanostructure catalysts are reviewed, with a focus on the stability of high‐performance Pt‐based catalysts and related mechanisms. The catalysts, which possess great activity, are still far from meeting the requirements of their applications, due to stability issues, especially in membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). Thus, solutions toward the comprehensive performance of Pt‐based catalysts are discussed here. The research trends and related theories that can promote the application of Pt‐based catalysts are also provided.
Recent developments regarding high‐performance nanostructured catalysts, especially in durability, are summarized. Their durability severely limits the application of shape‐controlled catalysts. Thus, the solutions to improve their durability are systematically introduced and their feasibility is also analyzed, with reference to the design of a new generation of Pt‐based catalysts.
Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis is one of the low temperature processes for producing green hydrogen when coupled with renewable energy sources. Although this technology has already ...reached a certain level of maturity and is being implemented at industrial scale, its high capital expenditures deriving from the utilization of expensive corrosion-resistant materials limit its economic competitiveness compared to the widespread fossil fuel-based hydrogen production, such as steam reforming. In particular, the structural elements, like bipolar plates (BPP) and porous transports layers (PTL), are essentially made of titanium protected by precious metal layers in order to withstand the harsh oxidizing conditions in the anode compartment. This review provides an analysis of literature on structural element degradation on the oxygen side of PEM water electrolyzers, from the early investigations to the recent developments involving novel anti-corrosion coatings that protect more cost-effective BPP and PTL materials like stainless steels.
•First review on corrosion of BPP and PTL for PEM water electrolyzer anodes.•Titanium is currently the most commonly used material for BPP and PTL.•BPP and PTL do not undergo similar corrosion conditions.•Stainless steels could be utilized as BPP/PTL material if appropriately protected.•Basic knowledge on the barrier properties of protective coatings is still missing.
Preliminary remark: all the electrode potentials in this review are expressed versus the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE).
Porous proton exchange membranes (PEMs) with abundant porous structures show enhanced phosphoric acid (PA) doping levels and proton transport capability. However, the high PA loss rate and serious ...hydrogen cross‐over lead to poor membrane stability. Enhancing the stability of PA‐doped porous PEMs is therefore crucial for obtaining high‐performance proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Herein, a porous polybenzimidazole membrane with dense double skin layers is reported using amino tris (methylene phosphonic acid) (ATMP) constructed. This membrane effectively alleviates hydrogen permeation and PA loss in a water/anhydrous environment and exhibits enhanced stability. Surprisingly, as an organic proton conductor, ATMP has strong hydrogen bonding with PA, leading to the formation of more continuous proton transport channels. Due to the dense double skin layers protection and the synergistic mass transfer of ATMP and PA, the porous membrane shows excellent proton conductivity (0.112 S cm−1) and a H2‐O2 fuel cell peak power density of 0.98 W cm−2 at 160 °C. Moreover, it presents excellent fuel cell stability, with a voltage decay rate of only 5.46 µV h−1. In addition, the porous membrane surpasses the traditional working temperature range, operating in the range of 80–220 °C. This study provides new insight into developing high‐performance porous PEMs.
Using amino tris (methylene phosphonic acid) with both a proton conduction function and cross‐linking function to construct dense double skin layers on the surface of a porous proton exchange membrane can effectively improve the phosphoric acid retention ability and reduce its hydrogen permeation, leading to enhanced operational stability in a high‐temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
A high‐performance nonprecious‐metal oxygen‐reduction electrocatalyst is prepared via in situ growth of bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) followed by ...adsorption of furfuryl alcohol and pyrolysis. The networking boosts the conductivity and performance in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, yielding a maximal power density of 820 mW cm−2.
Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) have received immense attentions for their core roles in high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). For a high-performance polymer electrolyte, ...stable mechanical property and high proton conductivity on the order of 10−2 S cm−1 at low humidity (or anhydrous conditions) and high temperature are ultimately necessary. With emphasis on this practical principle, phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazoles (PBIs) have become one of the hottest materials in the field of proton conducting membrane that exhibit high proton conductivity with values closing to 10−2 S cm−1. In addition to PBI, non-PBI based proton conducting polymers that exhibit satisfactory conductivity and intrinsic mechanical stability are also exciting research in HT-PEMs. This review summarizes the recent progresses in the HT-PEMs, and addresses the challenges and promising directions for further development of HT-PEMs.
•Influences of structure for membrane on single cell performance are analyzed.•Four categories of high temperature proton exchange membranes are summarized.•Advantages and drawbacks for proton exchange membranes are contrasted.•Suggestions of future development for proton exchange membranes are discussed.
The world is on the lookout for sustainable and environmentally benign energy generating systems. Fuel cells (FCs) are regarded as environmentally friendly technology since they address a variety of ...environmental issues, such as hazardous levels of local pollutants, while also delivering economic advantages owing to their high efficiency. A fuel cell is a device that changes chemical energy contained in fuels (such as hydrogen and methanol) into electrical energy. A wide variety of FCs are commercially available; however, proton exchange membranes for hydrogen fuel cells (PEMFCs) have received overwhelming attention owing to their potential to significantly reduce our energy consumption, pollution emissions, and reliance on fossil fuels. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) is a critical element; it is made of semipermeable polymer and serves as a barrier between the cathode and anode during fuel cell construction. Additionally, membranes function as an insulator between the cathode and anode, facilitating proton exchange and inhibiting electron exchange between the electrodes. Due to the excellent features such as durability and proton conductivity, Nafion membranes are commercially viable and have been in use for a long time. However, Nafion membranes are costly, and their proton exchange capacities degrade over time at higher temperatures and low relative humidity. Other types of membranes have been considered in addition to Nafion membranes. This article discusses the problems connected with several types of PEMs, as well as the strategies adopted to improve their characteristics and performance.
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•To analyse the various types of Fuel cells (FCs) commercially available.•To analyse the current and potential materials for Proton exchange membranes.•To analyse the performance of numerous polymeric proton exchange membranes compared to commercially available Nafion membranes.•To discusses the problems connected with several types of PEMs, as well as the current techniques used to improve their characteristics and performance.
•A new nano-design manufacturing presents for the hydrogen gas.•To demonstrate the superiority of fuel cell efficiency with genuine design.•UAVs with different analyzes to be made in the flow ...channels of the fuel cell.
The study indicates a comparison of PEM fuel cell systems (cathodic plate) with previous experimental setup and a new nano-design manufacturing for the nano-micro scale fluids with the fuel of hydrogen gas. The scope of the study is to demonstrate a superiority of fuel cell efficiency as well as genuine design over the experimental commercial fuel cell. Finding results of the energy efficiency was found to be 72.4% and exergy efficiency’s 85.22% of the PEMFC under 0.5 bar pressure and 0.2 l/min flow rate. Finding results revealed that the thermodynamic efficiency of PEMFC could be enhanced by regulating the pressure and flow rate parameters. This work gave great results thanks to the new design manufacturing. The results of this study emphasize to give better results compared to the results of the previous study. Besides supporting the previous study, it yielded even better results. Thus, it is thought that there will be a support energy system for larger energy systems in the future.
Polybenzimidazoles (PBIs) are the most promising binders for the catalyst layer (CL) in high‐temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT‐PEMFC). However, traditional commercial PBIs are not ...applied in binders because they do not enhance the electrochemical performance and because the related solvents are not environmentally friendly. In addition, proton transfer channels in PBIs are not investigated at the microscopic and atomic scales to date. In this study, a nitrogen‐rich rigid PBI binder containing pyridine, diazofluorene, and partially grafted nitrile (PBPBI‐3CN) is prepared with a functionalized structure, good thermal stability, and good solubility in an environmentally friendly solvent. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is fabricated with the PBPBI‐3CN binder, providing a high peak power density, low resistance, and good stability. The protonation, hydrogen bond networks, and platform for proton transfer are confirmed in the CLs. The protonation of PBPBI‐3CN occurs in two steps. First, some phosphoric acid (PA) molecules bind to nitrogen‐containing acidophilic groups via preliminary protonation; second, multiple PA molecules then interact with nitrogen‐containing acidophilic groups via further protonation. With protonation as the foundation, a sufficient amount of PA molecules form a hydrogen bond network, and proton transfer channels are established.
As nitrogen‐rich binders for high‐temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT‐PEMFCs), PBPBI‐3CNs have good solubility in environmentally friendly solvents and high thermal stability; they provide HT‐PEMFCs with promising electrochemical performance. Modeling via experiments and simulations shows the importance to nitrogen‐containing acidophilic interaction positions and provides a theoretical foundation for the establishment of proton transfer channels in the two‐step protonation mechanism.
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