Supercapacitor Integration with Fuel Cells

The fuel cell (EC) presents a clean power source alternative to current internal combustion engines. Among the many types of PCs characterized by their electrolytes, the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is lightweight and small, has a reasonably facile membrane fabrication, and shows great promise. However, one key weak point that continues to draw attention is the slow dynamic limitation demonstrated by PEMFCs during experimental use and the negative consequences that can result. 

Adding to the slow dynamics inherent to FCs, the hydrogen and oxygen delivery systems (pumps, valves, hydrogen reformer, etc.) endure mechanical stress under high power demands, leading to mechanical failures. To 

HESS coupling of ES to EC is done to exploit the ability of the former to respond to rapid increases in power demand. The extended lifetime of a supercapacitor is also useful in meeting a PEMFC objective to minimize required maintenance. Once more, various architectures are possible with this hybrid system, with each possessing benefits and detriments that largely depend on the resulting applications. 

Various architectures for hybridized fuel cell-supercapacitor systems. Source Turpin, C. and S. Astier. 2007. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 33,474 79. With permission.) 

However, the implementation of these strategies with power converters brings associated issues of increased weight, economic cost, complexity of the implemented energy management strategy, and chances for component failure. 

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Solid-state electrochemistry is an important and rapidly developing scientific field that integrates many aspects of classical electrochemical science and engineering, materials science, solid-state chemistry and physics, heterogeneous catalysis, and other areas of physical chemistry. This field comprises - but is not limited to - the electrochemistry of solid materials, the thermodynamics and kinetics of electrochemical reactions involving at least one solid phase, and also the transport of ions and electrons in solids and interactions between solid, liquid and/or gaseous phases, whenever these processes are essentially determined by the properties of solids and are relevant to the electrochemical reactions. The range of applications includes many types of batteries and fuel cells, a variety of sensors and analytical appliances, electrochemical pumps and compressors, ceramic membranes with ionic or mixed ionic-electronic conductivity, solid-state electrolyzers and electrocatalytic reactors, the synthesis of new materials with improved properties and corrosion protection, supercapacitors, and electrochromic and memory devices. 

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