In recent years, High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (HT-PEMFCs) have attracted worldwide attention as next-generation PEMFCs with a focus on automobile applications. Operating the fuel cell at temperatures higher than 100oC offer several advantages, including fast reaction kinetics, high tolerance to impurities, simple cell design, and better heat and water management. The cost of fuel cell systems can be reduced at the higher operating temperature by downsizing the fuel cell cooling system and eliminating a large humidifier or complex temperature/humidity controller unit. In addition, enhanced CO tolerance would permit the use of reformed methanol-water mixtures. Methanol reforming contains up to 2% CO, a concentration that generally has a detrimental impact on the fuel cell performance at low temperatures. CO tolerance in HT-PEMFCs would further simplify the fuelling process and mitigate hydrogen transportation's complicated and energy-intensive liquefaction.
Despite HT-PEMFCs being a hot topic area, their high cost and low durability due to the insufficient performance of the electrocatalysts and membranes at high operating temperatures hinder the practical application of this promising technology. The main challenges are: (1) the low electrocatalytic activity during oxygen reduction reaction, a reaction that requires high Pt-loading. Non-platinum group alternatives are highly desirable for oxygen reduction reaction, and (2) the system lifetime durability.
The scope of this special topic will be on discovering catalyst materials and providing a better understanding of the overall process. More specifically, developing novel catalyst synthesis methods and innovative assembly techniques, designing novel catalysts with particular emphasis on catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction, understanding catalyst and membrane degradation mechanisms, creating mitigation strategies for acid leaching and poisoning, and developing proton exchange membranes and novel ionomers.
Keywords:
Fuel Cell, Hydrogen Economy, Catalyst, Membrane, Ionomer, Electrocatalyst, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
In recent years, High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (HT-PEMFCs) have attracted worldwide attention as next-generation PEMFCs with a focus on automobile applications. Operating the fuel cell at temperatures higher than 100oC offer several advantages, including fast reaction kinetics, high tolerance to impurities, simple cell design, and better heat and water management. The cost of fuel cell systems can be reduced at the higher operating temperature by downsizing the fuel cell cooling system and eliminating a large humidifier or complex temperature/humidity controller unit. In addition, enhanced CO tolerance would permit the use of reformed methanol-water mixtures. Methanol reforming contains up to 2% CO, a concentration that generally has a detrimental impact on the fuel cell performance at low temperatures. CO tolerance in HT-PEMFCs would further simplify the fuelling process and mitigate hydrogen transportation's complicated and energy-intensive liquefaction.
Despite HT-PEMFCs being a hot topic area, their high cost and low durability due to the insufficient performance of the electrocatalysts and membranes at high operating temperatures hinder the practical application of this promising technology. The main challenges are: (1) the low electrocatalytic activity during oxygen reduction reaction, a reaction that requires high Pt-loading. Non-platinum group alternatives are highly desirable for oxygen reduction reaction, and (2) the system lifetime durability.
The scope of this special topic will be on discovering catalyst materials and providing a better understanding of the overall process. More specifically, developing novel catalyst synthesis methods and innovative assembly techniques, designing novel catalysts with particular emphasis on catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction, understanding catalyst and membrane degradation mechanisms, creating mitigation strategies for acid leaching and poisoning, and developing proton exchange membranes and novel ionomers.
Keywords:
Fuel Cell, Hydrogen Economy, Catalyst, Membrane, Ionomer, Electrocatalyst, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.