Semiconductor-membrane fuel cell (SMFC) for renewable energy technology

Abstract

The expansion of the human population and improved living conditions for a sizable portion of people are the primary forces behind adopting sustainable energy production technologies (besides fossil-fuel combustion). Fuel cells play a significant and productive role in energy transition by offering efficient and clean energy conversion among various energy production technologies. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are the most cost-effective and practical alternative for industrial use. However, the expensive cost limits its commercialization due to the high operational temperature (>750 °C) of electrolyte materials. Thus, low-temperature (<500 °C) SOFCs are low-cost and attractive for commercialization, but the lack of electrolyte materials is hindering their progress. Our objective is to present progress on new functional semiconductor-ionic material (SIM)/semiconductor membranes (SM) that may provide new paths for the R&D of SOFCs. Further, we study SM/SIM materials detailed properties and the nanoscale electrochemistry phenomena of SIMs to bring new concepts and ways for developing advanced SOFCs. A novel idea of a nano-SOFC that replaces the traditional electrolyte layer with an SIM or SM which is different from the conventional SOFCs, is presented. Also, we have highlighted how the redox reaction influences the ion's transportation in SIM/SM. Also, we have discussed the SIM/SM significance, limitations, challenges, and future perspectives. The proposed device can display superior performance, even in the low operating temperature range. This review is a state-of-the-art survey on this new frontier subject covering materials, technologies, devices, and fundamentals, and emphasizing this unique area's scientific bases and prospects.