Syllabus
1. Fuel cells, overview of main types (PEMFC, AEMFC, SOFC, MCFC, microbial fuel cells), fundamental advantages and drawbacks of the technology, discussion on differences and perspectives of each particular technology.
2. Materials for PEMFC, conditions and material requirements, role of materials with different size scale (form nano-, micro-, and millimeter range), challenges and further perspectives.
3. Research in materials for PEMFC, characterization of PEMFC performance, catalyst active sites, transport properties and water management, ex-situ and in-operando techniques - PEIS, CV, IV, NAP-XPS.
4. Difference between anion exchange and cation exchange fuel cells, pros and cons of AEMFC and PEMFC, material requirements, AEMFC material challenges and further research..
5. High temperature fuel cells, overview of different types of high temperature fuel cells and materials used, advanced materials and further research.
6. Microbial fuel cells, principes of technology, main materials used, characterization and perspectives.
7. Water electrolysis, PEM water electrolyzer as main source of the green hydrogen, working principle and theoretical background, advantages and challenges, further research.
8. Research in improvement of PEM electrolyzers characteristics, material requirements, development of the advanced materials, study of materials impact on the performance.
9. Alkaline based electrolyzers, advantages and disadvantages of the alkaline medium for water electrolysis, advanced materials for AEMWE.
10. Reversible PEM and AEM systems, working cycle of hydrogen fuel cell / water electrolyzer reversible systems, search and study of advanced materials, challenges
11. Hydrogen storage, materials with high mechanical properties for high pressure hydrogen storage, materials with high hydrogen absorption capacity, others.
Annotation
The aim of this lecture is to provide an introduction to hydrogen technologies - hydrogen production and the use of its chemical energy to produce electricity. Advanced materials used in these technologies will be introduced including the concepts of materials preparation with focus on their specific properties and role in energy acquisition, conversion and storage.