Nanomaterials for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells explains nanomaterials and nanocomposites as well as the characterization, manufacturing, and design of alcohol fuel cell applications. The advantages of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) are significant for reliable and long-lasting portable power sources used in devices such as mobile phones and computers. Even though substantial improvements have been made in DAFC systems over the last decade, more effort is needed to commercialize DAFCs by producing durable, low-cost, and smaller-sized devices. Nanomaterials have an important role to play in achieving this aim. The use of nanotechnology in DAFCs is vital due to their role in the synthesis of nanocatalysts within the manufacturing process. Lately, nanocatalysts containing carbon such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanocoils have also attracted much attention. When compared to traditional materials, carbon-based materials have unique advantages, such as high corrosion resistance, better electrical conductivity, and less catalyst poisoning. This book also covers different aspects of nanocomposites fabrication, including their preparation, design, and characterization techniques for their fuel cell applications. This book is an important reference source for materials scientists, engineers, energy scientists, and electrochemists who are seeking to improve their understanding of how nanomaterials are being used to enhance the efficiency and lower the cost of DAFCs. Shows how nanomaterials are being used for the design and manufacture of DAFCs Explores how nanotechnology is being used to enhance the synthesis and catalysis processes to create the next generation of fuel cells Assesses the major challenges of producing nanomaterial-based DAFCs on an industrial scale

Nanomaterials for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells explains nanomaterials and nanocomposites as well as the characterization, manufacturing, and design of alcohol fuel cell applications. The advantages of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) are significant for reliable and long-lasting portable power sources used in devices such as mobile phones and computers. Even though substantial improvements have been made in DAFC systems over the last decade, more effort is needed to commercialize DAFCs by producing durable, low-cost, and smaller-sized devices. Nanomaterials have an important role to play in achieving this aim. The use of nanotechnology in DAFCs is vital due to their role in the synthesis of nanocatalysts within the manufacturing process. Lately, nanocatalysts containing carbon such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanocoils have also attracted much attention. When compared to traditional materials, carbon-based materials have unique advantages, such as high corrosion resistance, better electrical conductivity, and less catalyst poisoning. This book also covers different aspects of nanocomposites fabrication, including their preparation, design, and characterization techniques for their fuel cell applications. This book is an important reference source for materials scientists, engineers, energy scientists, and electrochemists who are seeking to improve their understanding of how nanomaterials are being used to enhance the efficiency and lower the cost of DAFCs. - Shows how nanomaterials are being used for the design and manufacture of DAFCs - Explores how nanotechnology is being used to enhance the synthesis and catalysis processes to create the next generation of fuel cells - Assesses the major challenges of producing nanomaterial-based DAFCs on an industrial scale

Global experts provide an authoritative source of information on the use of electrochemical fuel cells, and in particular discuss the use of nanomaterials to enhance the performance of existing energy systems. The book covers the state of the art in the design, preparation, and engineering of nanoscale functional materials as effective catalysts for fuel cell chemistry, highlights recent progress in electrocatalysis at both fuel cell anode and cathode, and details perspectives and challenges in future research.

Alcohol fuel cells are very attractive as power sources for mobile and portable applications. As they convert the chemical energy of fuels into electricity, much recent research is directed at developing suitable and efficient catalysts for the process. The present book focuses on pertinent types of nanomaterial-based catalysts, membranes and supports.

Nanocatalysis is a topical area of research that has huge potential. It attempts to merge the advantages of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis. The collection of articles in this book treats the topics of specificity, activity, reusability, and stability of the catalyst and presents a compilation of articles that focuses on different aspects of these issues.

Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs), such as methanol and ethanol ones, are very promising advanced power systems that may considerably reduce dependence on fossil fuels and are, therefore, attracting increased attention worldwide. Nanostructured materials can improve the performance of the cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes of DAFCs. This book focuses on the most recent advances in the science and technology of nanostructured materials for direct alcohol fuel cells, including novel non-noble or low noble metal catalysts deposited on the graphene layer and metal-free doped carbon black for oxygen electroreduction reaction, Sn-based bimetallic and trimetallic nanoparticles for alcohol electro-oxidation reaction, and novel nanomaterials for promoting proton transfer in electrolytes. In addition, the book includes chapters from not only experimentalists but also computational chemists who have worked in the development of advanced power systems for decades. Illustrated throughout with excellent figures, this multidisciplinary work is not just a reference for researchers in chemistry and materials science, but a handy textbook for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level students in nanoscience- and nanotechnology-related courses, especially those with an interest in developing novel materials for advanced power systems.

Direct Liquid Fuel Cells is a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals and specificities of the use of methanol, ethanol, glycerol, formic acid and formate, dimethyl ether, borohydride, hydrazine and other promising liquid fuels in fuel cells. Each chapter covers a different liquid fuel-based fuel cell such as: Anode catalysts of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), future system designs and future trends for direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs), development of catalysts for direct glycerol fuel cells (DGFCs), the mechanisms of the reactions taking place at the anode and cathode electrodes, and the reported anode catalysts for direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) and direct formate fuel cell (DFFC), characteristics of direct dimethyl ether fuel cell (DDMEFC), including its electrochemical and operating systems and design, the developments in direct borohydride fuel cells, the development of catalysts for direct hydrazine fuel cells (DHFCs), and also the uncommonly used liquids that have a potential for fuel cell applications including 2-propanol, ethylene glycol, ascorbic acid and ascorbate studied in the literature as well as utilization of some blended fuels. In each part, the most recent literature is reviewed and the state of the art is presented. It also includes examples of practical problems with solutions and a summarized comparison of performance, advantages, and limitations of each type of fuel cell discussed. Direct Liquid Fuel Cells is not a typical textbook but rather designed as a reference book of which any level of students (undergraduate or graduate), instructors, field specialists, industry and general audience, who benefit from current and complete understanding of the many aspects involved in the development and operation of these types of fuel cells, could make use of any chapter when necessary. Presents information on different types of direct liquid fuel cells. Explores information under each section, for specific fuel-based fuel cells in more detail in terms of the materials used. Covers three main sections: direct alcohol, organic fuel-based and inorganic fuel-based fuel cells