Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
28
Fuel Cells with NaNomaterials
For eCologiCally Pure traNsPort
Gennady Gerasimov
Institute of Mechanics, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
28.1
iNtroduCtioN
Among the key technologies for the transition from environmental-unfriendly fossil fuel use to the hydrogen-based economy,
fuel cells are promising devices for direct conversion of chemical energy into electricity [1]. Fuel cell vehicles are developed to
replace conventional internal combustion engines. The aim is to produce lower pollutant emissions, reduce fuel consumption,
and allow long-range transportation, contrary to electric vehicles with batteries [2]. At present, fuel cell technology is shifting
very fast from fundamental research to real design [3]. The Californian market is the leader in the development of passenger
vehicle strategy today. Using the automaker survey results, the California Fuel Cell Partnership described a way to build retail
hydrogen stations to meet the demand for hydrogen in 2014 and to prepare for the 50,000 vehicles coming by 2017 [4].
Nanotechnology offers different possibilities to increase the energy conversion efficiency of fuel cells within catalysts, mem-
branes, and hydrogen storage. The most frequently used catalyst for the electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen in fuel cells is
platinum or its alloys [5]. Usually, a platinum layer is deposed on the surface of commercial carbon. With the aim to reduce the
platinum quantity and to increase its efficiency, the possibility of using Pt nanoclasters and thin layers on fuel cell electrodes
has been under study since years [6]. On the other hand, the application of carbon nanostructures, particularly the latest, that is,
carbon nanotubes (CNTs), as a support for highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles leads to higher activity of the oxygen reduction
reaction and better performance of the fuel cell, as compared to a catalyst supported on commercial carbon [7, 8].
A large portion of the current work in the fuel cell technology is devoted to proton exchange fuel cells (PEFC), as they are
the most suitable fuel cells for vehicular applications [9]. The most highly developed membranes for PEFCs are polymer mem-
branes [10]. Therefore, these fuel cells are sometimes referred to as polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Some recent investigations
show the advantage of track-etched membrane applications in fuel cells [11]. Track-etched membranes may be used as a host
matrix for the preparation of polymer-polymer nanocomposite membranes with polyelectrolyte nanodomains oriented normal
to the plane of the membrane [12]. The membranes synthesized in this way demonstrate the ability to enhance transport in the
desired direction. Nanomaterials also possess the potential to be lightweight and highly efficient storage media for hydrogen as
applied to fuel cell vehicles [13]. Among them, carbon nanomaterials (nanotubes, fullerenes, and graphene-like materials)
attract considerable attention as reversible hydrogen storage media under ambient conditions [14].
This chapter gives a brief review of the recent progress in the application of nanomaterials for the improvement of fuel cells
that will facilitate the transition of fuel cell vehicles to the commercial market. The review includes the examination of available
experimental data as well as main technical aspects of fuel cell technology. Since the number of publications on this subject is
too large, the review quotes the most typical works on each of the considered items.
 
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