Numerical Modeling and Evaluation of PEM Used for Fuel Cell Vehicles

The Role of Fungal Fuel Cells in Energy Production and the Removal of Pollutants from Wastewater

Pure water, i.e., a sign of life, continuously circulates and is contaminated by different discharges. This emerging environmental problem has been attracting the attention of scientists searching for methods for the treatment of wastewater contaminated by multiple recalcitrant compounds. Various physical and chemical methods are used to degrade contaminants from water bodies. Traditional methods have certain limitations and complexities for bioenergy production, which motivates the search for new ways of sustainable bioenergy production and wastewater treatment. Biological strategies have opened new avenues to the treatment of wastewater using oxidoreductase enzymes for the degradation of pollutants. Fungal-based fuel cells (FFCs), with their catalysts, have gained considerable attention among scientists worldwide. They are a new, ecofriendly, and alternative approach to nonchemical methods due to easy handling. FFCs are efficiently used in wastewater treatment and the production of electricity for power generation. This article also highlights the construction of fungal catalytic cells and the enzymatic performance of different fungal species in energy production and the treatment of wastewater.

Fuel Cell Systems for Maritime: A Review of Research Development, Commercial Products, Applications, and Perspectives

The ambitious targets set by the International Maritime Organization for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping require radical actions by all relevant stakeholders. In this context, the interest in high efficiency and low emissions (even zero in the case of hydrogen) fuel cell technology for maritime applications has been rising during the last decade, pushing the research developed by academia and industries. This paper aims to present a comparative review of the fuel cell systems suitable for the maritime field, focusing on PEMFC and SOFC technologies. This choice is due to the spread of these fuel cell types concerning the other ones in the maritime field. The following issues are analyzed in detail: (i) the main characteristics of fuel cell systems; (ii) the available technology suppliers; (iii) international policies for fuel cells onboard ships; (iv) past and ongoing projects at the international level that aim to assess fuel cell applications in the maritime industry; (v) the possibility to apply fuel cell systems on different ship types. This review aims to be a reference and a guide to state both the limitations and the developing potential of fuel cell systems for different maritime applications.

Studying Performance and Kinetic Differences between Various Anode Electrodes in Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Cell

The electrode, as one of the most critical components in a proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) cell for hydrogen production, has a significant impact on cell performance. Electrodes that are fabricated via various techniques may exhibit different morphologies or properties, which might change the kinetics and resistances of the PEMWE. In this study, we have successfully fabricated several electrodes by different techniques, and the effects of electrode coating methods (ultrasonic spray, blade coating, and rod coating), hot press, and decal transfer processes are comprehensively investigated. The performance differences between various electrodes are due to kinetic or high frequency resistance changes, while the influences are not significant, with the biggest deviation of about 26 mV at 2.0 A cm^-2. In addition, the effects of catalyst ink compositions, including ionomer to catalyst ratio (0.1 to 0.3), water to alcohol ratio (1:1 to 3:1), and catalyst weight percentage (10% to 30%), are also studied, and the electrodes' performance variations are less than 10 mV at 2.0 A cm^-2. The results show that the PEMWE electrode has superior compatibility and redundancy, which demonstrates the high flexibility of the electrode and its applicability for large-scale manufacturing.