abstract
Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier and fuel cells (FCs) are an efficient conversion technology, and thus have become mainstream research topics that could contribute to sustainable and clean energy supply in modern society. Among the various hydrogen FC types that convert chemical energy into electrical energy via redox reactions, polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are the most studied technology due to their vast range of applications both mobile and stationary. The use of bio-based materials as substrates for the manufacture of the key constituent components of FCs, to minimize the impact of their production, although in its infancy, is growing exponentially as part of the general concern for sustainability. In fact, natural polymers such as cellulose (i.e. the most abundant biopolymer), and in particular its nanoscale forms, viz. cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), are appropriate materials to engineer the key components of PEFCs, namely the ion-exchange membrane and the catalyst layer (anode and cathode). Despite the intense R&D activity, little has been reviewed about the potential application of these three forms of cellulose with at least one dimension in the nanoscale in the field of FCs. Hence, the overarching goal of this review is to concentrate on the most recent efforts in the domain of bio-based PEFC components, namely the ion-exchange membrane and the electrodes, by targeting the use of nanocellulose as a renewable and easily foldable or stackable nanomaterial. The application of these nanocellulose-based components in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is also covered.
keywords
OXYGEN REDUCTION REACTION; WASTE-WATER TREATMENT; BACTERIAL CELLULOSE MEMBRANES; PROTON-EXCHANGE MEMBRANES; RADIATION-GRAFTED MEMBRANES; KETONE KETONE) COMPOSITES; NANOCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE; NANOCOMPOSITE MEMBRANES; DIMENSIONAL STABILITY; SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
subject category
Chemistry; Energy & Fuels; Materials Science
authors
Vilela, C; Silvestre, AJD; Figueiredo, FML; Freire, CSR
our authors
Armando Jorge Domingues Silvestre
Full professor
Carla Vilela
Assistant Professor
Carmen Sofia da Rocha Freire Barros
Coordinating Researcher
Filipe Miguel H Lebre R Figueiredo
Principal ResearcherGroups
G3 - Electrochemical Materials, Interfaces and Coatings
G4 - Renewable Materials and Circular Economy
acknowledgements
This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UID/CTM/50011/2019), financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC. The research contract of C. Vilela is funded by national funds (OE), through FCT -Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19. FCT is also acknowledge for the research contract under Stimulus of Scientific Employment 2017 to C.S.R. Freire (CEECIND/00464/2017).