Fuel cell devices are employed for energy production. H2 fuelled proton exchange (PEMFCs) and anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) are low temperature fuel cell systems of high efficiency, typically used to power production implementing in noble metal based electrocatalysts.
Similarly, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are sulphur resistant fuel cell devices that operate at high temperatures, and usually use ceramic electrocatalytic materials. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), as well as microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), are bioelectrochemical devices producing electricity and chemical energy (usually H2 or CH4) respectively, using microbial cultures as bioelectrocatalysts.
The combination of various renewable energy sources has resulted in alternative applications to energy production, such as the photo-electrochemical (PEC) water splitting towards H2 production, which aims to utilize photoelectrocatalytic materials with enhanced semi-conductive properties. With this in mind, the development of innovative, highly active and cost effective electrocatalytic materials for various environmental electrochemical processes has attracted enormous scientific interest.
Growing energy demands, and environmental pollution has resulted in enhanced scientific interest towards the development of environmentally friendly and high yielding energy sources. Among the various renewable energy sources, hydrogen arose as a promising fuel alternative with a high energy content. The development of high-performance low temperature fuel cells combusting hydrogen is hampered by the use of costly noble metal based electrocatalysts.
On the other hand, the operation of high-temperature SOFCs does not require the use of precious metals as electrocatalysts but their yield is impeded by the elevated applied temperature values, thus requiring the implementation of temperature resistant electrocatalytic materials. The search for novel electrocatalytic materials with specific properties extends to the case of fuel cells with lower power output such as the MFCs, where the development of low-cost, highly durable and non-toxic electrodes is required for their operation to be considered viable.
Nonetheless, electrocatalysis is a scientific field easily combined with other scientific branches such as photocatalysis, resulting in very interesting applications such as the PEC water splitting process. This process offers a wide range of potential novel electrocatalytic materials with enhanced semiconductor characteristics. Considering the above, this Research Topic aims to bring together the latest research efforts focused on the development of innovative electrocatalysts for the aforementioned electrocatalytic applications and beyond.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Innovative electrocatalytic materials for the oxygen reduction reaction and hydrogen oxidation reaction in acidic medium (cathode and anode of PEMFCs, respectively)
• Innovative electrocatalytic materials for the oxygen reduction reaction and hydrogen oxidation reaction in alkaline medium (cathode and anode of AEMFCs)
• Innovative electrocatalytic materials for SOFCs
• Innovative electrocatalytic materials for MFCs
• Innovative electrocatalytic materials for MECs
• Innovative electrocatalytic materials for PEC water splitting
Keywords:
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (AEMFC), Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC), Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC), Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
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.
Fuel cell devices are employed for energy production. H2 fuelled proton exchange (PEMFCs) and anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) are low temperature fuel cell systems of high efficiency, typically used to power production implementing in noble metal based electrocatalysts.
Similarly, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are sulphur resistant fuel cell devices that operate at high temperatures, and usually use ceramic electrocatalytic materials. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), as well as microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), are bioelectrochemical devices producing electricity and chemical energy (usually H2 or CH4) respectively, using microbial cultures as bioelectrocatalysts.
The combination of various renewable energy sources has resulted in alternative applications to energy production, such as the photo-electrochemical (PEC) water splitting towards H2 production, which aims to utilize photoelectrocatalytic materials with enhanced semi-conductive properties. With this in mind, the development of innovative, highly active and cost effective electrocatalytic materials for various environmental electrochemical processes has attracted enormous scientific interest.
Growing energy demands, and environmental pollution has resulted in enhanced scientific interest towards the development of environmentally friendly and high yielding energy sources. Among the various renewable energy sources, hydrogen arose as a promising fuel alternative with a high energy content. The development of high-performance low temperature fuel cells combusting hydrogen is hampered by the use of costly noble metal based electrocatalysts.
On the other hand, the operation of high-temperature SOFCs does not require the use of precious metals as electrocatalysts but their yield is impeded by the elevated applied temperature values, thus requiring the implementation of temperature resistant electrocatalytic materials. The search for novel electrocatalytic materials with specific properties extends to the case of fuel cells with lower power output such as the MFCs, where the development of low-cost, highly durable and non-toxic electrodes is required for their operation to be considered viable.
Nonetheless, electrocatalysis is a scientific field easily combined with other scientific branches such as photocatalysis, resulting in very interesting applications such as the PEC water splitting process. This process offers a wide range of potential novel electrocatalytic materials with enhanced semiconductor characteristics. Considering the above, this Research Topic aims to bring together the latest research efforts focused on the development of innovative electrocatalysts for the aforementioned electrocatalytic applications and beyond.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Innovative electrocatalytic materials for the oxygen reduction reaction and hydrogen oxidation reaction in acidic medium (cathode and anode of PEMFCs, respectively)
• Innovative electrocatalytic materials for the oxygen reduction reaction and hydrogen oxidation reaction in alkaline medium (cathode and anode of AEMFCs)
• Innovative electrocatalytic materials for SOFCs
• Innovative electrocatalytic materials for MFCs
• Innovative electrocatalytic materials for MECs
• Innovative electrocatalytic materials for PEC water splitting
Keywords:
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (AEMFC), Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC), Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC), Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
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.