Liquid Fuel Cells
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "D2: Electrochem: Batteries, Fuel Cells, Capacitors".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2022) | Viewed by 661
Special Issue Editor
Interests: electrochemistry of materials; electrocatalysis; low temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells; high temperature corrosion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Towards the commercialization of fuel cell products in the coming years, fuel cell systems are being redefined by means of lowering the cost of basic elements such as electrolytes, membranes, electrodes, and catalyst materials, and by increasing their power density and long-term stability. Among different kinds of fuel cells, low-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are of major importance, but their problems related to hydrogen storage and distribution are forcing the development of liquid fuels such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, formic acid, ammonia, hydrazine, borohydride, and others. Some of these fuels are cheaper, easier to handle, transport, and store, and have higher theoretical energy conversion efficiency than hydrogen. During the last two decades, four long-term markets and energy solutions in which fuel cell systems may play an important role were identified: lowest cost energy to end users, combined heat and power or high-value premium power solutions, peak-shaving technologies, and load-management and grid-power support for varying supply. Accordingly, fuel cell systems are being redefined in the direction of the commercialization of the required fuel cell products, namely for the four primary sub-systems: cell (anode, electrolyte, cathode, and supporting structures), stack (interconnectors, flow configurations, contact layers, current collectors), BOP (balance of plant), and external BOP, which provides connections to the exterior. It is thus clear that materials R&D is critical in the development of fuel cells. However, other issues—namely, cost, reliability, and lifetime; competitive manufacturing; operation and disposal chains; shortage and recycling of materials, etc.—need attention for a better commercialization, and have been more successfully solved in the case of fuel cells operating on liquid fuels. Regenerative organic fuel cells that can also function as electrolyzers built using acidic or alkaline electrolyte, known as “regenerative fuel cells” (RFCs), are also known. The RFC has been a dream of many hydrogen technology enthusiasts as it can be an ideal solution for maximizing the benefits of the variable renewable energy (VRE) sources such as solar and wind. This Special Issue encourages the submission of relevant papers (short communications, full, progress, or review papers) focusing on electrochemical studies and the physicochemical characterization of active materials and sub-systems for liquid-feed fuel cell systems. In particular, this SI focuses on research and development related to:
- Fuels for liquid fuel cells;
- Direct liquid fuel cells;
- Regenerative organic fuel cells;
- Processes for electrode preparation;
- Electrochemical techniques of analysis;
- Nonplatinum-based nanostructured electrocatalysts;
- Design and fabrication of nanoporous metallic electrocatalysts;
- Macroporous substrate materials;
- Advanced single and double-layer gas diffusion layers;
- Manufacturing methods for metallic bipolar plates;
- Carbon and noncarbon hybrid support materials;
- Degradation mechanisms, focused on the support degradation;
- Novel spectroscopy and microscopy characterizations;
- Air, heat, and water management.
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- Electrochemistry and electrochemical protocols
- Processes for electrode preparation
- Fuel cell design, materials and components
- Liquid fuels
- Synthesis of nanostructured electrocatalysts
- Ionic membranes
- Metallic bipolar plates
- Thermal and water management
- Cell/electrodes characterization
- Support degradation
- MEAs design and performance
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