Review on Microfluidic Technology Based Synthesis of Fe-based Nanoparticles for Catalyst in Fuel Cell

Abstract

Conventional combustion based energy generations, reliant on fossil fuels, poses significant environmental harm. In contrast, fuel cells offer an efficient and eco-friendly energy conversion method, capable of integrating with renewable sources and contemporary energy carriers to support sustainable development and energy security. Consequently, fuel cells are considered the promising energy conversion devices of the future. However, extensive research reveals that the cost of catalysts constitutes the most substantial portion of the overall fuel cell cost. To tackle this cost constraint, considerable advancements have been achieved in the development of cost-effective, precious metal-free electrocatalysts. Common methods for the preparation of metal nanomaterials (NPs) have more stringent requirements, lower deposition efficiency and higher costs. In addition, conventional preparation methods without precisely control of reagent concentration, mixing and temperature during the preparation process, makes it difficult to obtain the same results with poor reproducibility, restricting the industrial fabrication of high performance nanomaterials. Microfluidic reactors have advantages of efficient mixing, high heat and mass transfer, low reagent consumption, precise control of reactant components, residence time, reaction temperature and other parameters. They can also be coupled with multi-step reactions, greatly reducing the preparation time while obtaining composite nanomaterials with excellent dimensional homogeneity. In this review, we mainly discuss the microfluidic technology-based synthesis of PGM-free catalyst used in fuel cell.