Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells for Portable Applications


Book Description

Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells for Portable Applications: Fundamentals, Engineering and Advances presents the fundamental concepts, technological advances and challenges in developing, modeling and deploying fuel cells and fuel cell systems for portable devices, including micro and mini fuel cells. The authors review the fundamental science of direct alcohol fuel cells, covering, in detail, thermodynamics, electrode kinetics and electrocatalysis of charge-transfer reactions, mass and heat transfer phenomena, and basic modeling aspects. In addition, the book examines other fuels in DAFCs, such as formic acid, ethylene glycol and glycerol, along with technological aspects and applications, including case studies and cost analysis. Researchers, engineering professionals, fuel cell developers, policymakers and senior graduate students will find this a valuable resource. The book’s comprehensive coverage of fundamentals is especially useful for graduate students, advanced undergraduate students and those new to the field. Provides a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of DAFCs and their basic components, design and performance Presents current and complete information on the state-of-the-art of DAFC technology and its most relevant challenges for commercial deployment Includes practical application examples, problems and case studies Covers the use of other fuels, such as formic acid, ethylene glycol and glycerol




Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells


Book Description

Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells: Materials, Performance, Durability and Applications begins with an introductory overview of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFC); it focuses on the main goals and challenges in the areas of materials development, performance, and commercialization. The preparation and the properties of the anodic catalysts used for the oxidation of methanol, higher alcohols, and alcohol tolerant cathodes are then described. The membranes used as proton conductors in DAFC are examined, as well as alkaline membranes, focusing on the electrical conductivity and alcohol permeability. The use of different kinds of carbon materials as catalyst supports, gas diffusion layers, and current collectors in DAFC is also discussed. State of the art of the modeling is used to estimate performance and durability. The closing chapter reviews the use of DAFC in portable equipment and mobile devices and features a detailed discussion on the mechanisms of component degradation which limits their durability. This book is written to facilitate the understanding of DAFC technology, applications, and future challenges. It is an excellent introduction for electrochemical and material engineers interested in small fuel cells as portable energy sources, scientists focused on materials science for energy production and storage, as well as policy-makers in the area of renewable energies.




Direct Liquid Fuel Cells


Book Description

Direct Liquid Fuel Cells is a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals and specificities of the use of methanol, ethanol, glycerol, formic acid and formate, dimethyl ether, borohydride, hydrazine and other promising liquid fuels in fuel cells. Each chapter covers a different liquid fuel-based fuel cell such as: Anode catalysts of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), future system designs and future trends for direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs), development of catalysts for direct glycerol fuel cells (DGFCs), the mechanisms of the reactions taking place at the anode and cathode electrodes, and the reported anode catalysts for direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) and direct formate fuel cell (DFFC), characteristics of direct dimethyl ether fuel cell (DDMEFC), including its electrochemical and operating systems and design, the developments in direct borohydride fuel cells, the development of catalysts for direct hydrazine fuel cells (DHFCs), and also the uncommonly used liquids that have a potential for fuel cell applications including 2-propanol, ethylene glycol, ascorbic acid and ascorbate studied in the literature as well as utilization of some blended fuels. In each part, the most recent literature is reviewed and the state of the art is presented. It also includes examples of practical problems with solutions and a summarized comparison of performance, advantages, and limitations of each type of fuel cell discussed. Direct Liquid Fuel Cells is not a typical textbook but rather designed as a reference book of which any level of students (undergraduate or graduate), instructors, field specialists, industry and general audience, who benefit from current and complete understanding of the many aspects involved in the development and operation of these types of fuel cells, could make use of any chapter when necessary. Presents information on different types of direct liquid fuel cells. Explores information under each section, for specific fuel-based fuel cells in more detail in terms of the materials used. Covers three main sections: direct alcohol, organic fuel-based and inorganic fuel-based fuel cells




Nanomaterials for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells


Book Description

Nanomaterials for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells explains nanomaterials and nanocomposites as well as the characterization, manufacturing, and design of alcohol fuel cell applications. The advantages of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) are significant for reliable and long-lasting portable power sources used in devices such as mobile phones and computers. Even though substantial improvements have been made in DAFC systems over the last decade, more effort is needed to commercialize DAFCs by producing durable, low-cost, and smaller-sized devices. Nanomaterials have an important role to play in achieving this aim. The use of nanotechnology in DAFCs is vital due to their role in the synthesis of nanocatalysts within the manufacturing process. Lately, nanocatalysts containing carbon such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanocoils have also attracted much attention. When compared to traditional materials, carbon-based materials have unique advantages, such as high corrosion resistance, better electrical conductivity, and less catalyst poisoning. This book also covers different aspects of nanocomposites fabrication, including their preparation, design, and characterization techniques for their fuel cell applications. This book is an important reference source for materials scientists, engineers, energy scientists, and electrochemists who are seeking to improve their understanding of how nanomaterials are being used to enhance the efficiency and lower the cost of DAFCs. Shows how nanomaterials are being used for the design and manufacture of DAFCs Explores how nanotechnology is being used to enhance the synthesis and catalysis processes to create the next generation of fuel cells Assesses the major challenges of producing nanomaterial-based DAFCs on an industrial scale




Nanomaterials for Alcohol Fuel Cells


Book Description

Alcohol fuel cells are very attractive as power sources for mobile and portable applications. As they convert the chemical energy of fuels into electricity, much recent research is directed at developing suitable and efficient catalysts for the process. The present book focuses on pertinent types of nanomaterial-based catalysts, membranes and supports.




Electrocatalysts for Low Temperature Fuel Cells


Book Description

Meeting the need for a text on solutions to conditions which have so far been a drawback for this important and trend-setting technology, this monograph places special emphasis on novel, alternative catalysts of low temperature fuel cells. Comprehensive in its coverage, the text discusses not only the electrochemical, mechanistic, and material scientific background, but also provides extensive chapters on the design and fabrication of electrocatalysts. A valuable resource aimed at multidisciplinary audiences in the fields of academia and industry.




Catalysts for Alcohol-fuelled Direct Oxidation Fuel Cells


Book Description

This book presents a state-of-the-art review on recent advances in nanocatalysts and electrocatalysis in DOFCs.




Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Technology


Book Description

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Technology presents the overall progress witnessed in the field of DMFC over the past decade, highlighting the components, materials, functions, properties and features, designs and configurations, operations, modelling, applications, pros and cons, social, political and market penetration, economics and future directions. The book discusses every single aspect of DMFC device technology, the associated advantages and drawbacks of state-of-the-art materials and design, market opportunities and commercialization aspects, and possible future directions of research and development. This book, containing critical analyses and opinions from experts around the world, will garner considerable interest among actual users/scientists/experts. Analyzes developments of membrane electrolytes, electrodes, catalysts, catalyst supports, bipolar plates, gas diffusion layers and flow channels as critical components of direct methanol fuel cells Includes modeling of direct methanol fuel cells to understand their scaling up potentials Discusses commercial aspects of direct methanol fuel cells in terms of market penetration, end application, cost, viability, reliability, social and commercial perception, drawbacks and prospects




Direct Methanol Fuel Cells


Book Description

This book deals with an analysis of materials issues, status of technologies and potential applications of direct methanol fuel cells. The principle of operation of direct methanol fuel cells and the status of knowledge in the basic research areas are presented. The technology of direct methanol fuel cells is discussed in this book with particular regard to fabrication methodologies for the manufacturing of catalysts, electrolytes membrane-electrode assemblies, stack hardware and system design.




Fuel Cells for Portable Power


Book Description

Thanks to generally less stringent cost constraints, portable power fuel cells, the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) in particular, promise earlier market penetration than higher power polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) for the automotive and stationary applications. However, a large-scale commercialization of DMFC-based power systems beyond niche applications already targeted by developers will depend on improvements to fuel cell performance and performance durability as well as on the reduction in cost, especially of the portable systems on the higher end of the power spectrum (100-250 W). In this part of the webinar, we will focus on the development of advanced materials (catalysts, membranes, electrode structures, and membrane electrode assemblies) and fuel cell operating concepts capable of fulfilling two key targets for portable power systems: the system cost of $5/W and overall fuel conversion efficiency of 2.0-2.5 kWh/L. Presented research will concentrate on the development of new methanol oxidation catalysts, hydrocarbon membranes with reduced methanol crossover, and improvements to component durability. Time permitted, we will also present a few highlights from the development of electrocatalysts for the oxidation of two alternative fuels for the direct-feed fuel cells: ethanol and dimethyl ether.