Nanotechnology in Fuel Cells

Description

Nanotechnology in Fuel Cells focuses on the use of nanotechnology in macroscopic and nanosized fuel cells to enhance their performance and lifespan. The book covers the fundamental design concepts and promising applications of nanotechnology-enhanced fuel cells and their advantages over traditional fuel cells in portable devices, including longer shelf life and lower cost. In the case of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), nano-membranes could provide 100 times higher conductivity of hydrogen ions in low humidity conditions than traditional membranes. For hydrogen fuel cell, nanocatalysts (Pt hybrid nanoparticles) could provide 12 times higher catalytic activity. This is an important reference source for materials scientists and engineers who are looking to understand how nanotechnology is being used to create more efficient macro- and nanosized fuel cells. Cover Half Title Nanotechnology in Fuel Cells Copyright Contents List of contributors Foreword Section 1: Basic Principles 1. Nanotechnology-based fuel cells: an introduction 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Fuel cells 1.3 Nanotechnology and fuel cells 1.4 Current research on nanofuel cells 1.5 Conclusion References 2. Microfluidic concept-based fuel cells 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Theory 2.3 Fabrication and design of microfluidic fuel cells 2.4 Performance evaluation of microfluidic fuel cells 2.5 Perspective and conclusions References 3. Alcohol fuel cell on-a-chip 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Fuel cell on-a-chip 3.3 General view of direct alcohol microfluidic fuel cells 3.4 Testing direct alcohol microfluidic fuel cells 3.5 Nanotechnology in direct alcohol microfluidic fuel cells 3.5.1 Nanoparticle anodes and cathodes for methanol microfluidic fuel cells 3.5.2 Nanoparticle anodes and cathodes for ethanol microfluidic fuel cells 3.5.3 Nanoparticle anodes and cathodes for ethylene glycol microfluidic fuel cells 3.5.4 Nanoparticle anodes and cathodes for glycerol microfluidic fuel cells 3.6 Perspectives and future engagements Acknowledgments Appendix References 4. General aspects in the modeling of fuel cells: from conventional fuel cells to nano fuel cells 4.1 Introduction 4.1.1 Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) 4.2 Numerical modeling 4.2.1 Macroscopic continuum modeling 4.2.2 Pore-scale modeling 4.2.3 Hybrid continuum/pore-scale modeling 4.3 PEMFC macroscopic modeling 4.3.1 Assumptions 4.3.2 Conservations equations 4.3.3 Source terms 4.3.4 Boundary conditions Acknowledgments References 5. Mathematical modeling for fuel cells 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Fuel cells simulation and modeling 5.3 Process design and mathematical formulation 5.3.1 Solid oxide fuel cells 5.3.2 Molten carbonate fuel cells 5.3.3 Proton exchange membrane fuel cells 5.3.4 Direct alkaline fuel cell 5.3.5 Microbial fuel cells 5.4 Key challenges of mathematical modeling 5.5 Conclusion References Section 2: Nanostructures and nanomaterials for fuel cells 6. Nanostructures and nanomaterials in microbial fuel cells 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Nanostructured materials in microbial fuel cells 6.2.1 Nanostructures as electrode materials 6.2.1.1 Carbon-based structures 6.2.1.1.1 Zero-dimensional (0D) carbon nanostructures (nanoparticles/nanospheres) 6.2.1.1.2 One-dimensional carbon nanostructures (Nanowires/nanorods/nanofibers/nanotubes) 6.2.1.1.3 Two-dimensional carbon nanostructures (Nanosheets, nanobelts, cyclic and spiral nanostructures) 6.2.1.1.4 Three-dimensional carbon nanostructures: (Hierarchical/macroporous structure) 6.3 Nanocomposite materials 6.3.1 Anode materials 6.3.1.1 Polymer carbon nanocomposites (P-C anode) 6.3.1.2 Metal-carbon nanocomposites (M-C anode) 6.3.1.2.1 Metal-based carbon nanocomposite anodes 6.3.1.2.2 Metal oxide-based carbon nanocomposite anode 6.3.1.3 Metal-polymer nanocomposite (M-P anode) 6.3.2 Cathode materials 6.3.2.1 Polymer-carbon nanocomposites (P-C cathode) 6.3.2.2 Metal-carbon nanocomposites (M-C cathode) 6.3.2.2.1 Metal-based carbon nanocomposites cathode 6.3.2.2.2 Metal oxide-based carbon nanocomposite cathode 6.3.2.3 Metal polymer nanocomposite (M-P cathode) 6.3.3 Membranes 6.3.3.1 Polymer-carbon nanocomposites (P-C membrane) 6.3.3.2 Polymer-polymer nanocomposites (P-P membrane) 6.3.3.3 Polymer-metal nanocomposites (P-M membrane) 6.4 Conclusion Acknowledgment References 7. Metal-organic frameworks for fuel cell technologies 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Structure of metal-organic frameworks 7.2.1 Secondary building units 7.2.2 Open metal sites 7.2.3 Pores 7.2.4 Functional groups 7.2.5 Development of porous structure 7.2.6 Design of metal-organic framework derivative 7.3 Metal-organic frameworks for fuel cells applications 7.3.1 Proton-conducting metal-organic frameworks 7.3.1.1 Proton transfer under low temperature 7.3.1.2 Proton transfer at high temperature 7.4 Metal-organic frameworks as oxygen reduction reaction catalyst 7.5 Conclusion References 8. Advanced carbon-based nanostructured materials for fuel cells 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Important oxygen reduction reaction characterization notions 8.2.1 Onset potential (Eons) 8.2.2 Current density 8.2.3 Tafel slope 8.2.4 Electron transfer number and HO2− percentage 8.2.5 Turnover frequency 8.3 Approaches to synthesize nanocarbons 8.3.1 Zero-dimensional carbonaceous materials 8.3.1.1 Fullerene-based electrocatalysts 8.3.1.2 Carbon dots-based electrocatalysts 8.3.2 One-dimensional carbonaceous materials 8.3.2.1 Carbon nanotubes-based 1D nanostructures 8.3.2.1.1 Heteroatom-doped CNTs 8.3.2.1.2 Carbon nanotube-supported active materials 8.3.3 Graphene-based two-dimensional carbonaceous materials 8.3.3.1 Heteroatom-doped graphene materials 8.3.3.2 Graphene-supported carbonaceous materials 8.3.4 Three-dimensional carbon materials 8.3.4.1 Heteroatom-doped porous carbon nanomaterials 8.3.4.2 Metal-organic framework-derived porous carbon materials 8.3.4.3 Three-dimensional porous metal-nitrogen-carbon materials 8.4 Conclusion References 9. Covalent organic framework-based materials as electrocatalysts for fuel cells 9.1 Introduction 9.1.1 Motivations and scope 9.1.2 Fuel cell and its chemistry 9.1.3 Chemistry of covalent organic frameworks 9.1.3.1 Molecular building blocks linking and crystallization 9.1.3.2 Porosity of COFs 9.1.3.3 Chemical stability of COFs 9.1.4 Interlayer stacking in COFs 9.2 Recent advancements in COF-based electrocatalysts for ORR 9.2.1 Pristine metal-free COFs 9.2.2 Macrocycle-incorporated COFs 9.2.3 COF-derived SAC-based materials 9.2.4 Nanocarbon-supported COFs 9.3 Designing approaches of COF-based electrocatalysts 9.3.1 Geometric orientation-based approaches 9.3.1.1 3D-based COFs 9.3.1.2 2D-based COFs 9.3.1.3 Thin film and nanofiber-based COFs 9.3.2 Different bonding-based approaches 9.3.2.1 Carbon–nitrogen-based approach 9.3.2.2 Triazine-based approach (CTFs) 9.3.2.3 Imide-based approach (PICOFs) 9.4 Concluding remarks 9.4.1 Challenges 9.4.2 Prospects and research directions References 10. Nano-inks for fuel cells 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Ink rheological parameters and influencing factors 10.3 Recent progress in nano-ink preparation and utilization in fuel cell application 10.3.1 The effect of solvents and additives 10.3.2 The effect of the dispersion method 10.3.3 The effect of the ink composition 10.4 Conclusion References 11. Nanomaterial and nanocatalysts in microbial fuel cells 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Application of nanomaterial structures in anodes 11.2.1 Carbon-based nanomaterials 11.2.2 Nanoconducting polymer 11.2.3 Metal-based nanomaterials 11.3 Application of nanomaterial structures in cathodes 11.3.1 Graphene-based nanomaterial 11.3.2 Carbon nanotubes and nanofibers 11.3.3 Transition metal oxide nanomaterials 11.3.4 Conducting polymer nanomaterials 11.4 Ion-exchange membranes 11.4.1 Perfluorinated membranes 11.4.2 Sulfonated membranes 11.4.3 Nonfluorinated and nonsulfonated membranes 11.5 Conclusion References 12. Nanomembranes in fuel cells 12.1 The introduction of nanomembranes in fuel cells 12.1.1 Description of nanomembranes 12.1.1.1 Proton-exchange membranes 12.1.1.2 Characteristic parameters of nanomembranes 12.1.1.3 Classification of nanomembranes 12.1.2 Proton transport channels 12.1.2.1 Proton transfer mechanism 12.1.2.2 Proton transport channel models 12.1.2.3 Modification strategies of proton transport channel 12.2 Polymer-based nanomembranes 12.2.1 Polymer membranes with tailored main chains 12.2.1.1 Flexible and rigid chain segments 12.2.1.2 Regular and atactic chain segments 12.2.2 Polymer membranes with functional side chains 12.2.2.1 Hydrophilic side chains 12.2.2.2 Hydrophobic side chains 12.2.3 Polymer membranes with special groups 12.2.3.1 Large and rigid groups 12.2.3.2 Amino groups 12.2.3.3 Densely sulfonated units 12.2.4 Cross-linking membranes 12.2.4.1 Semiinterpenetrating 12.2.4.2 Fully cross-linking 12.3 Hybrid membranes containing nanofillers 12.3.1 Effect of nanofillers 12.3.2 Nanoparticles 12.3.2.1 Nanometal oxides 12.3.2.2 Metal-organic frameworks 12.3.2.3 Mineral materials 12.3.3 Nanocarbon materials 12.3.3.1 Nanofibers 12.3.3.2 Nanotubes 12.3.3.3 Graphite 12.3.3.4 Fullerenes References 13. Shape-controlled metal nanoparticles for fuel cells applications 13.1 Introduction 13.2 What is shape-controlled catalyst 13.3 Platinum catalyst 13.4 Fe, Co, and Ni catalysts 13.5 Various functionality of shape-selected nanoparticles 13.5.1 Activity enhancement 13.5.2 Selectivity enhancement 13.5.3 Optical behavior 13.6 Summary References 14. Fuel cells recycling 14.1 Introduction to fuel cells and recycling 14.2 Nanomaterials used in fuel cells 14.2.1 Nanomaterials in the polymer electrolyte membrane or proton-exchange membrane 14.2.2 Nanomaterials in the molten carbonate fuel cells 14.2.3 Materials in phosphoric acid fuel cell 14.2.4 Materials in solid oxide fuel cells 14.3 Recycling processes 14.3.1 Hydrometallurgical process 14.3.2 Pyrohydrometallurgical process 14.3.3 Hydrothermal process 14.3.4 Selective electrochemical dissolution 14.3.5 Transient dissolution through potential alteration 14.3.6 Membrane and Pt-recovery acid process 14.3.7 Alcohol solvent process 14.4 Microbial fuel cell recycling mechanism 14.5 Summary References 15. Micro/nanostructures for biofilm establishment in microbial fuel cells 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Nanostructure for promoting electrochemical active bacteria/electrode interaction 15.2.1 Carbon nanomaterials decoration 15.2.2 Conductive polymer coating 15.2.3 Other types of modifications 15.3 Microstructure for increasing specific surface area 15.3.1 Electrodes with random microstructure 15.3.1.1 Carbon-based electrodes 15.3.1.2 Metal-based electrodes 15.3.2 Electrode materials with regular microstructure 15.3.2.1 Biomass-derived porous materials 15.3.2.2 Electrode with engineered 3D macroporous architectures 15.4 Outlook Acknowledgments References 16. Nanomaterials in biofuel cells 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Types of biofuel cell 16.2.1 Enzymatic fuel cell 16.2.2 Microbial fuel cell 16.3 Application of nanomaterials in biofuel cells 16.3.1 Nanomaterials in electrodes 16.3.1.1 Anode modification 16.3.1.1.1 Transition metals-based nanoparticles and nanocomposites as anode catalyst 16.3.1.1.2 Carbon-based nanomaterials and nanocomposites as anode catalysts 16.3.1.1.3 Polymer-based anodes 16.3.1.2 Cathode modification 16.3.1.2.1 Metal-free cathode catalysts 16.3.1.2.2 Metal-based carbon cathode catalysts 16.3.2 Nanomaterials in membranes 16.3.2.1 Ion-exchange membranes 16.3.2.1.1 Nanocomposite membrane (hybrid organic–inorganic) 16.3.2.1.2 Nanocomposite membranes with Fe3O4 16.3.2.1.3 Nanocomposite membranes with TiO2 16.3.2.1.4 Nanocomposite membranes with SiO2 16.3.2.1.5 Nanocomposite membranes with carbon materials 16.3.2.1.6 Nanocomposite membranes with miscellaneous materials 16.4 Conclusion References Index Cover back