Materials for Low-temperature Fuel Cells

by Ladewig, Bradley; Jiang, San Ping; Yan, Yushan; Lu, Max

• ISBN13: 9783527330423
• ISBN10: 3527330429
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2015-03-09
• Publisher: Wiley-VCH

Summary

There are a large number of books available on fuel cells; however, the majority are on specific types of fuel cells such as solid oxide fuel cells, proton exchange membrane fuel cells, or on specific technical aspects of fuel cells, e.g., the system or stack engineering. Thus, there is a need for a book focused on materials requirements in fuel cells. Key Materials in Low-Temperature Fuel Cells is a concise source of the most important and key materials and catalysts in low-temperature fuel cells. A related book will cover key materials in high-temperature fuel cells. The two books form part of the ?Materials for Sustainable Energy & Development? series. Key Materials in Low-Temperature Fuel Cells brings together world leaders and experts in this field and provides a lucid description of the materials assessment of fuel cell technologies. With an emphasis on the technical development and applications of key materials in low-temperature fuel cells, this text covers fundamental principles, advancement, challenges, and important current research themes. Topics covered include: proton exchange membrane fuel cells, direct methanol and ethanol fuel cells, microfluidic fuel cells, biofuel cells, alkaline membrane fuel cells, functionalized carbon nanotubes as catalyst supports, nanostructured Pt catalysts, non-PGM catalysts, membranes, and materials modeling. This book is an essential reference source for researchers, engineers and technicians in academia, research institutes and industry working in the fields of fuel cells, energy materials, electrochemistry and materials science and engineering.

Author Biography

Associate Professor Bradley Ladewig is an academic in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Monash University, Australia, where he leads a research group developing membrane materials and technologies for clean energy applications. He has a wide range of experience as a chemical engineering researcher, including in membrane development for direct methanol fuel cells, testing and modeling of combined heat and power PEM fuel cell systems, and desalination membrane development. Recently he has worked on several collaborative projects in the field of direct carbon fuel cells, metal organic framework materials as gas sorbents and membrane components, and low-cost microfluidic sensors based on paper and thread substrates. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.

Professor San Ping Jiang is a professor at the Curtin Centre for Advanced Energy Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Australia and Adjunct Professor of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China. He also holds Visiting/Guest Professorships at Wuhan University of Technology, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Sichung University, and Shandong University. Dr. Jiang has broad experience in both academia and industry, having held positions at Nanyang Technological University, the CSIRO Manufacturing Science and Technology Division in Australia, and Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd (CFCL). His research interests encompass solid oxide fuel cells, proton exchange and direct methanol fuel cells, and direct alcohol fuel cells.

Professor Yushan Yan is Distinguished Engineering Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware. Prior to that he was a Professor at The University of California, Riverside, and before that worked for AlliedSignal Inc. as a Senior Staff Engineer and Project Manager. His research focuses on zeolite thin films for semiconductors and aerospace applications and new materials for cheaper and durable fuel cells. He is co-Founder and Director of the start-up companies Full Cycle Energy and Zeolite Materials Solutions (ZSM).

Table of Contents

KEY MATERIALS FOR LOW-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS: AN INTRODUCTION

ALKALINE ANION EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS
Fuel Cells
PEM Fuel Cell Principles
Alkaline Fuel Cells
Summary

CATALYST SUPPORT MATERIALS FOR PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS
Introduction
Current Status of Support Materials and Role of Carbon as Support in Fuel Cells
Novel Carbon Materials as Electrocatalyst Support for Fuel Cells
Conductive Metal Oxide as Support Materials
Metal Carbides and Metal Nitrides as Catalyst Supports
Conducting Polymer as Support Materials for Fuel Cells
Conducting Polymer-Grafted Carbon Materials
3M Nanostructured Thin Film as Support Materials for Fuel Cells
Summary and Outlook

ANODE CATALYSTS FOR LOW-TEMPERATURE DIRECT ALCOHOL FUEL CELLS
Introduction
Anode Catalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells: Improved Performance of Binary and Ternary Catalysts
Anode Catalysts for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells: Break C-C Bond to Achieve Complete 12-Electron-Transfer Oxidation
Anode Catalysts for Direct Polyol Fuel Cells (Ethylene Glycol, Glycerol): Cogenerate Electricity and Valuable Chemicals Based on Anion Exchange Membrane Platform
Synthetic Methods of Metal Electrocatalysts
Carbon Nanomaterials as Anode Catalyst Support
Future Challenges and Opportunities

MEMBRANES FOR DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLS
Introduction
Basic Principles of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Operation
Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
Membrane Properties Summary
Conclusions

HYDROXIDE EXCHANGE MEMBRANES AND IONOMERS
Introduction
Requirements
Fabrications and Categories
Structure and Properties of Cationic Functional Group
Structure and Properties of Polymer Main Chain
Structure and Properties of Chemical Cross-Linking
Prospective

MATERIALS FOR MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS
Introduction
MFC Configuration
Anode Materials
Cathode
Separators
Outlook

BIOELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEMS
Bioelectrochemical Systems and Bioelectrocatalysis
On the Nature of Microbial Bioelectrocatalysis
Microbial Electron Transfer Mechanisms
From Physiology to Technology: Microbial Bioelectrochemical Systems
Applicatin Potential of BES Technology
Characterization of BESs and Microbial Bioelectrocatalysts
Conclusions

MATERIALS FOR MICROFLUIDIC FUEL CELLS
Introduction
Fundamentals
Membraneless LFFC Designs and the Materials in Use
Fuel, Oxidant, and Electrolytes
Conclusions

PROGRESS IN ELECTROCATALYSTS FOR DIRECT ALCOHOL FUEL CELLS
Introduction
Developing an Effective Method to Prepare Electrocatalysts
Electrocatalysts for ORR
Electrocatalysts for MOR
Electrocatalysts for Ethanol Electrooxidation
Conclusions

Index