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Nanocomposites of Carbon for Fuel Cells

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NanoCarbon: A Wonder Material for Energy Applications

Part of the book series: Engineering Materials ((ENG.MAT.))

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Abstract

A vast number of resources have been invested into the design of intermediate and low-temperature fuel cells such as the microbial fuel cell (MFC), proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), direct borohydride fuel cell (DBFC), and direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). This class of fuel cells has displayed varied limitations owing to their respective principal components. Hence, the need to investigate different materials and nanocomposites with the capacity to enhance the performance of fuel cells. Due to the exceptional properties of carbon molecules in their nano state, nanocarbons have gained global attention as catalyst supports in fuel cell applications. The triumphs and challenges of the application of carbon nanotube-based electrocatalysts in fuel cell technology have been presented in this book chapter. This chapter will review the application of carbon-based nanocomposite materials in the intermediate processes of MFC, PEMFC, DBFC, DMFC, and other recently designed fuel cells. Comparative study of the mechanism of action, applications, yield, merits, and demerits of various carbon-based nanocomposite materials will be assessed. Recent advances in important cutting-edge synthetic routes will be assessed. The sole purpose of this work is to act as a substantive reference for the application of carbon-based nanocomposite fuel cell energy generation reviews.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. We are grateful for financial support from the Walter Sisulu Directorate of Research and Innovation and Eskom Tertiary Education Support (TESP). In addition, the authors are grateful for the excellent support of WSU staff members.

Funding

This research was funded by the Walter Sisulu University grant for Renewable Energy Technologies RNA, and Tertiary Education Support Program (TESP), Eskom Holdings SOC Limited Reg. No. 2002/015527/06.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Science, Faculty of Natural Science, Engineering and Technology, Walter Sisulu University, Old King William Town Road, Potsdam Site, East London, 5200, South Africa

    James F. Amaku & Raymond Taziwa

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  1. James F. Amaku
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  2. Raymond Taziwa
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Correspondence to James F. Amaku .

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS, USA

    Ram K. Gupta

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Amaku, J.F., Taziwa, R. (2024). Nanocomposites of Carbon for Fuel Cells. In: Gupta, R.K. (eds) NanoCarbon: A Wonder Material for Energy Applications. Engineering Materials. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-9935-4_14

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