Article
Energy & Fuels
Guvenc Umur Alpaydin, Gizem Nur Bulanik Durmus, C. Ozgur Colpan, Yilser Devrim
Summary: In this study, a mathematical model of a direct dimethyl ether fuel cell (DDMEFC) was developed to investigate the impact of operating conditions on voltage losses and cell performance. Experimental data was used to determine the values of modeling parameters. The effects of synthesized catalysts and operating conditions on cell performance were discussed by comparing activation polarization, ohmic polarization, and polarization curves.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Teng Wang, Yun Zhao, Brian P. Setzler, Reza Abbasi, Shimshon Gottesfeld, Yushan Yan
Summary: This study presents a high-performance low-temperature direct ammonia fuel cell (DAFC) enabled by a hydrophobic spinel cathode, achieving a peak power density of 410 mW cm(-2) and continuous operation for 80 hours at 300 mA cm(-2). The stacking of multiple cells also demonstrates comparable performance to that of a single cell, marking a significant development in DAFC technology. Techno-economic analysis shows that these DAFC systems could be a competitive power source alongside hydrogen fuel cells and Li-ion batteries.
CELL REPORTS PHYSICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Z. Tayarani-Yoosefabadi, J. Bellerive, E. Kjeang
Summary: The objective of this study is to develop a multiscale stochastic modeling framework for microporous layers (MPLs) and complete MPL-coated bi-layer gas diffusion layers (GDLs). The effects of MPL morphology and composition on transport properties are simulated, and it is found that MPL morphology significantly influences the overall GDL properties, providing a design strategy for improved transport in fuel cell membrane electrode assembly. Furthermore, the validated multiscale modeling approach can be used as a virtual design tool to reduce the cost and time of MPL and GDL prototyping assignments.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
P. Schuehle, R. Stoeber, M. Semmel, A. Schaadt, R. Szolak, S. Thill, M. Alders, C. Hebling, P. Wasserscheid, O. Salem
Summary: This paper highlights the potential of the DME/CO2 storage cycle for long-distance point-to-point transport of renewable hydrogen. This technology has been overlooked thus far, but it offers significant advantages such as higher energy efficiency, reduced mass flows, lower water consumption, and lower toxicological risks compared to other hydrogen vectors.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
A. Tamer Erturk, Ugur Ergin, Tuncay Kadioglu, Anil Can Turkmen, Cenk Celik
Summary: Renewable energy sources have become crucial due to global warming and the depletion of fossil fuel resources. Metal foams, particularly aluminum foam, have garnered attention for their use in fuel cell systems and their ability to improve performance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Satoshi Sakaida, Mana Sugiyama, Ryuya Nagayama, Kotaro Tanaka, Mitsuru Konno
Summary: This study investigated the fuel crossover characteristics of oxymethylene dimethyl ether (OME) in polymer electrolyte fuel cells, and found that the fully hydrolyzed OME (h-OME) has a lower fuel crossover rate compared to direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC), leading to higher cell performance at high fuel concentrations. The effective diffusion coefficient of h-OME in the membrane decreased with increased fuel concentration, resulting in the low fuel crossover rate at high h-OME concentrations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Caroline Teixeira Rodrigues, Gabriela de Franca Lopes, Christian Goncalves Alonso, Luiz Mario de Matos Jorge, Paulo Roberto Paraiso
Summary: Studies on the integration of reforming systems with Fuel Cells are intriguing for energy production in remote areas. The development of multi-fuel processors that can utilize various fuels without modifying the unit is particularly interesting. This study modeled and simulated an Autonomous Fuel Cell (AFC) system with methanol and/or Dimethyl Ether Steam Reforming (SR) using Aspen Plus. The evaluation focused on process variables, operational conditions, and the need for additional processes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Medhanie Gebremedhin Gebru, Radhey Shyam Yadav, Hanan Teller, Haya Kornweitz, Palaniappan Subramanian, Alex Schechter
Summary: In this study, the oxidation of a mixture of dimethyl ether (DME) and methyl formate (MF) was investigated using a multi-metallic alloy catalyst, Pt3Pd3Sn2/C, in an aqueous electrochemical cell and a vapor-fed polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The cooperative effect of mixing these fuels was observed, with the current obtained during bulk oxidation of the mixture being higher than the summation of the currents provided by the individual fuels. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the dual-molecules had a lower adsorption energy, leading to greater utilization of specific catalytic sites. The fuel cell experiments showed that the DME + MF mixture-fed cell achieved a higher peak power density compared to cells fed with DME or MF alone.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
M. S. Alias, S. K. Kamarudin, A. M. Zainoodin, M. S. Masdar
Summary: This study presents a surface characterization of the modified MPL of TiO2-CNF-CB and discusses in detail the mechanism on the power density drop due to increment of methanol concentration. The study also tests the performance and stability of the modified MPL. The results show that the mixture of TiO2-CNF-CB improved the stability of the DMFC over long-term performance testing.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Electrochemistry
Anne Berger, Yen-Chun Chen, Jacqueline Gatzemeier, Thomas J. Schmidt, Felix N. Buechi, Hubert A. Gasteiger
Summary: This study aims to analyze the impact of fabricating a GDL with an MPL that intrudes into the GDL-S on the structure of GDL-S and PEMFC performance. The results provide design guidelines for improved GDLs.
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Diego Zapardiel, Pablo A. Garcia-Salaberri
Summary: The study highlights the importance of designing appropriate MEA porous media and interfaces in optimizing proton exchange fuel cells (PEFCs). By modeling water capillary transport and gas diffusion using a hybrid model, various characteristics under different conditions can be effectively captured, providing insights for enhancing PEFC performance.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dacheng Zhang, Kang Li, Ziten Wang, Zhengang Zhao
Summary: In the structure of mu DMFC, the anode diffusion layer composed of reduced graphene oxide/carbon paper (rGO/CP) plays a crucial role in improving fuel cell performance. The rGO/CP not only reduces the resistance of the cell, but also decreases methanol crossover, enabling the cell to operate stably at higher concentrations for a longer duration.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nagaraju Niluroutu, Avanish Shukla, Vishal M. Dhavale, Sreekuttan M. Unni, Santoshkumar D. Bhat
Summary: The composite membrane of sPEEK and PSSA-f-MCM-41 shows improved physio-chemical properties, reduced methanol permeability, and higher electrochemical selectivity, resulting in better DMFC performance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yange Yang, Xiang Li, Fumin Tang, Pingwen Ming, Bing Li, Cunman Zhang
Summary: Recent research has shown that the degradation of the anode gas diffusion layer has a significant impact on the output power density of fuel cell stacks. This degradation is mainly due to carbon corrosion, which reduces mechanical strength, support capacity, and hydrophobicity of the layer. The decrease in hydrophobicity leads to increased water retention capacity and decreased back diffusion of cathode water.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Qitong Shi, Cong Feng, Pingwen Ming, Fumin Tang, Cunman Zhang
Summary: This paper reviews the effects of compression on gas diffusion layers in fuel cells, emphasizing the need for comprehensive investigation on how compression affects the pores and bulk characteristics of the gas diffusion layer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiao-Fei Gong, Yun-Long Zhang, Lei Zhao, Yun-Kun Dai, Jia-Jun Cai, Bing Liu, Pan Guo, Qing-Yan Zhou, Ichizo Yagi, Zhen-Bo Wang
Summary: Atomically dispersed Fe-N-C catalysts are considered promising substitutes for Pt-series catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions. The use of a dual-template strategy involving Zn/g-C3N4 resulted in the synthesis of atomic Fe-N-x center-embedded N-doped carbon nanosheets with unique structure and hierarchical porosity. The catalyst exhibited excellent ORR performance and high power density in Zn-air batteries, showing potential for practical electrochemical applications.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mi Guo, Liang Luo, Shulin Chen, Zhenzhen Wang, Pengjian Zuo, Zhenbo Wang
Summary: In this study, dual-modification of LiNi0.88Co0.09Al0.03O2 was achieved by LiBO2-coating and Mg-doping, aiming to stabilize its crystal structure and reduce its surface activity. The dual-modification effectively improved the discharge ability, rate capability, and cycling behavior of LiNi0.88Co0.09Al0.03O2. The co-modification cathode showed excellent prolonged cycling stability in cylindrical 18650 batteries at both room and high temperature.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xin-Yu Li, Fu-Da Yu, Wang Ke, Yun-Shan Jiang, Lan-Fang Que, Lei Zhao, Su-E Hao, Zhen-Bo Wang
Summary: Li2MnO3 is the parent compound of Li-rich Mn-based cathode materials and has attracted considerable interest due to its high electrochemical activity caused by the existence of oxygen vacancies. The mechanism behind the oxygen vacancies in Li2MnO3 is still under debate. In this study, Li2MnO3 with different oxygen vacancy contents was synthesized using a mechanical thermal activation engineering strategy to investigate its electrochemical activity. It was found that the introduction of oxygen vacancies effectively modulates the electronic structure, inducing distortion of the interfacial structure and stimulating the electrochemical activity. The evolution of Mn and O in Li2MnO3 during cycling showed that the Mn-O hybridization is strongly correlated with the oxygen redox behaviors, and high electrochemical activity and cycling stability cannot coexist. This work provides valuable insights into the origin of electrochemical activity in Li2MnO3 for the design of high energy density cathode materials.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Long-Ji Yuan, Xu-Lei Sui, Chang Liu, Yu-Ling Zhuo, Qi Li, Hui Pan, Zhen-Bo Wang
Summary: This review provides a systematic introduction to the research methods of M-N-C catalysts, reveals their electrocatalytic mechanism and structure-activity relationship, and points out future research directions.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xiongzhi Yang, Jinzhu Jia, Linghao Sun, Guangsheng Huang, Junli Zhou, Ruanming Liao, Zhonghui Wu, Lin Yu, Zhenbo Wang
Summary: The regeneration of harmful activated sludge into an energy source is a valuable strategy for municipal sludge treatment and recycling. In this study, SiO2-modified N,S auto-doped porous carbon (NSC@SiO2) was successfully obtained through a simple calcination method. The introduction of P-doped NSC@SiO2 (NSPC@SiO2) further enhanced its surface area, pore volume, and carbon defects, making it an excellent sulfur host for lithium-sulfur batteries.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yun-shan Jiang, Fu-da Yu, Wang Ke, Liang Deng, Yang Xia, Xin-yu Li, Lan-fang Que, Nian Zhang, Lei Zhao, Zhen-bo Wang
Summary: Disordered rocksalt-like cathodes with initial Li-deficient nanostructures, cation vacancies, and partial spinel-type structures have been prepared, providing fast Li+ percolation channels under Li-deficient condition. The prepared sample exhibits high initial discharge capacity and energy density. Advanced spectroscopy and in situ measurements observe highly reversible charge compensation and assign coupled Mn- and O-related redox contribution. Theoretical calculations suggest a novel and chemical reversible trapped molecular O-2 model in the rocksalt structure with vacancies, demonstrating a dual role of Li-deficient structure in promoting cationic oxidation and extending reversible oxygen redox boundary. This work is expected to break through the existing ideas of oxygen oxidation and opens up a higher degree of freedom in the design of disordered rocksalt structures.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yunkun Dai, Bo Liu, Ziyu Zhang, Pan Guo, Chang Liu, Yunlong Zhang, Lei Zhao, Zhenbo Wang
Summary: A strategy of Fe d-orbital splitting modulation by constructing axial coordination on Fe-N-4 sites is presented to regulate the electronic states of single atomic sites around the Fermi level. The axial tractions induce the distortion of Fe-N-4 SP and up to the quasi-octahedral coordination (Fe-N4O1 OCquasi), leading to electron rearrangement and diluted spin polarization. This work provides a novel understanding for improving electrocatalytic performance through orbital-scale manipulation.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yaru Yang, Qingjun Zhu, Jiayi Yang, Han Liu, Yang Ren, Xulei Sui, Panpan Wang, Gang Sun, Zhenbo Wang
Summary: A dual gaseous surface treatment strategy with ammonium bicarbonate is designed to reconstruct the surface characteristics of Li-rich manganese base oxides, achieving an enriched oxygen vacancies mixed-phase surface layer. This modified cathode exhibits excellent high-temperature performance, including improved coulombic efficiency, cycling stability, and rate capability.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jianxi Lu, Songbo Chen, Yuling Zhuo, Xinya Mao, Dong Liu, Zhenbo Wang
Summary: The study demonstrates the design of a novel electrocatalyst with high catalytic performance for hydrogen production through seawater electrolysis. Surface amorphization and morphology engineering are combined to improve catalytic performance. The synergistic effect between surface amorphization and unique microcolumn morphology contributes to the remarkable performance of the electrocatalyst.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Long-Ji Yuan, Bo Liu, Li-Xiao Shen, Yun-Kun Dai, Qi Li, Chang Liu, Wei Gong, Xu-Lei Sui, Zhen-Bo Wang
Summary: A Cyan-Fe-N-C catalyst was constructed with the help of axial Fe4C atomic clusters, which exhibited high catalytic performance in acid environment. The Fe-pyrrolic N-4 structure was stabilized and optimized for OH* adsorption, resulting in excellent half-wave potential and power density in fuel cells.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yaxuan Wang, Junfu Li, Shilong Guo, Ming Zhao, Weiwei Cui, Lianfeng Li, Lei Zhao, Zhenbo Wang
Summary: In this study, a new method of battery failure diagnosis in terms of capacity fading is proposed based on the heterogeneous multi-physics aging model of lithium-ion batteries. The key parameters are obtained by using a parameter identification method, and the parameter boundaries when the battery is on the verge of failure are obtained through a model-driven method. Monitoring the key parameters allows for online diagnosis of battery failure and provides an early warning signal when the battery reaches the end of its life, ensuring battery performance and safety.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lixiao Shen, Miao Ma, Zigang Zhao, Fengdi Tu, Jing Liu, Bin Xu, Yunlong Zhang, Lei Zhao, Guangjie Shao, Zhenbo Wang
Summary: The impact of carbon structure on the performance of carbon-supported catalysts has been studied under different relative humidity conditions. Low-loading solid carbon catalysts perform well at low humidity, while high-loading porous carbon catalysts excel at high humidity. Furthermore, porous carbon catalysts show high mass activity at low current density due to their reduced susceptibility to sulfonate poisoning. On the other hand, solid carbon catalysts facilitate a more uniform ionomer thin-film and create a more active three-phase interface area, resulting in satisfactory performance at high current density and low local-O2 transport resistance.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Zhaowei Zhang, Junya Shao, Junfu Li, Yaxuan Wang, Zhenbo Wang
Summary: This study developed an electrochemical model for lithium batteries and used three methods for current and SOC estimation. The results showed that the extended Kalman filter algorithm (EKF) performed the best in terms of estimation accuracy and convergence speed.
Article
Electrochemistry
Shujian Zhang, Hongmo Zhu, Lanfang Que, Xuning Leng, Lei Zhao, Zhenbo Wang
Summary: This study investigates the effect of carrier film phase conversion time on the properties of polymer electrolytes in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. By optimizing the preparation process, the best carrier film phase conversion time was determined to be 40 hours. The optimized polymer electrolyte exhibits high ionic conductivity, excellent cyclic performance, and thermal stability.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Min Liu, Qiang Zhang, Xueliang Wang, Jianxin Gao, Qianfeng Liu, Erdong Wang, Zhenbo Wang
Summary: Acetic acid-sodium alginate (SA)/NaCl solid anolyte biphasic electrolytes were designed to expand the voltage window and alleviate anode corrosion in the magnesium-air (Mg-air) battery. The prepared SA/NaCl solid electrolyte has a high ionic conductivity and the anode utilization efficiency significantly increased from 9.6% to 61.5%. The assembled Mg-air battery achieved a high open circuit potential (OCP) of 2.59 V, an average discharge voltage of 2.01 V, and a high anode energy density of 2984.5 W h kg(-1) at 0.5 mA cm(-2).
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS
(2023)
