Research and Application of Different Types of Fuel Cells

Abstract:
The best devices to use hydrogen energy are fuel cells, which are not restricted by the Carnot cycle and can achieve higher energy benefits use efficiency. Fuel cell has attracted worldwide attention because of environmental friendliness, the utilization of less expensive metallic catalysts, and the rapid electrode reaction rate and high specific energy. But fuel cell engines and construction cost of hydrogenation station are expensive so that these become existing problems. Because electrolyte is the core part of fuel cell, fuel cell can be divided into alkaline fuel cell (AFC), phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and proton membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) according to the type of electrolyte. This paper introduces the character and latest research achievements of AEMs of AFC, HTPEM of PEMFC, and low-temperature operation of SOFC. The main problems and developmental trends of polymer-based and high-temperature proton exchange membranes, how to realize low-temperature operation by selecting electrolyte and electrode materials, and changing battery structure are also discussed.