Challenges of Fuel Cell Technologies for the Needs of the Energy Transition to a Zero-carbon Technology | Journal of Engineering Sciences

Challenges of Fuel Cell Technologies for the Needs of the Energy Transition to a Zero-carbon Technology

Author(s): Ostroverkh A. S.1*, Solonin Yu. M.1, Bezdorozhev O. V.1, Ostroverkh Y. M.1, Shcherbatiuk O. M.2, Dubau M.3, Kovalenko L. L.4

Affiliation(s):
1 Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine,
3, Krzhyzhanovsky St., Kyiv, 03142, Kyiv, Ukraine;
2 Hydrogen Systems Engineering LLC, 4/19, P. Bolbochana Str., 01014, Kyiv, Ukraine;
3 Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Charles University, 2, V Holešovičkách St., CZ-18000 Prague 8, Czech Republic;
4 Vernadsky Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine,
32/34, Palladina Ave., 03142 Kyiv, Ukraine

*Corresponding Author’s Address: [email protected]

Issue: Volume 8, Issue 2 (2021)

Dates:
Submitted: August 18, 2021
Accepted for publication: December 9, 2021
Available online: December 14, 2021

Citation:
Ostroverkh, A. S., Solonin, Yu. M., Bezdorozhev, O. V., Ostroverkh, Y. M.,Shcherbatiuk O. M., Dubau M., Kovalenko L. L. (2021). Challenges of fuel cell technologies for the needs of the energy transition to a zero-carbon technology. Journal of Engineering Sciences, Vol. 8(2), pp. G1-G10, doi: 10.21272/jes.2021.8(2).g1

DOI: 10.21272/jes.2021.8(2).g1

Research Area:  CHEMICAL ENGINEERING: Advanced Energy Efficient Technologies

Abstract. The study focuses on the challenges of implementing fuel cell technologies and materials to achieve efficient use of green hydrogen and zero CO2 emissions. It is shown that only identifying the optimal parameters for each fuel cell component and technology and testing the system will help achieve the planned output-specific power. The thorough structure optimization of the membrane-electrode complex and testing in actual operating conditions will accelerate the implementation of fuel cell technologies. An example of structural optimization and improvement of catalytic activity of electrodes and electrolytes is shown. The current density of 0.36 μA/cm2 was obtained at a voltage of 0.6 V and a temperature of 500 °C for the fuel cell with 75–80 μm thick ZnO electrolyte and without membrane electrode assembly optimization. It is shown that the fuel cell electrodes’ catalytic activity depends on the modeling profile and structure of the catalytic layer, which was verified by testing in real fuel cell operating conditions.

Keywords: fuel cells, electrolysis cell, material science, hydrogen energy, decarbonization.

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