ABSTRACT

While lithium-ion battery technology might contribute to energy storage in a sustainableenergyeconomy,theirapplicationinlightweightvehicles,forexample,is limitedtoshortdistances.Therearealsoconcernsabouttheenergyrequirements

19.1 PEM Fuel Cells for Energy Conversion ........................................................ 589 19.2Case for Liquid Fuel Cells and DBFCs ........................................................ 591 19.3 Cell Design and Components of DBFCs ...................................................... 592

19.3.1Cell Design ....................................................................................... 592 19.3.2Anodes for Borohydride Oxidation .................................................. 593 19.3.3 Cathodes for Oxygen or Peroxide Reduction.................................... 593 19.3.4Electrolytes ....................................................................................... 595 19.3.5Separators and Ion Exchange Membranes ........................................ 596

19.4Challenges to Be Addressed ......................................................................... 596 19.5Examples of Recent Developments .............................................................. 598

19.5.1 Nanostructured Electrocatalysts ....................................................... 599 19.5.2Porous, 3D Electrode Supports ......................................................... 599 19.5.3Surfactant Additions to the Electrolyte to Suppress

Borohydride Hydrolysis .................................................................... 601 19.5.4Modeling and Simulation of DBFCs ................................................ 601 19.5.5 Improved Materials and Cell Design ................................................602

19.6Summary and Further Needs .......................................................................603 References ..............................................................................................................604

and the power grid infrastructure needed for a battery-based transport technology. Ef›cientinternalcombustiontechnologiesandhybridsystemshavebeencurrently proposedandarelikelytosatisfythetransportenergyneedsinthenearfuture.1 Higher-powerandhigher-charge-capacityfuelcelldevicescouldemergeasasustainableenergyalternativeifthefuelcelltechnologyandhydrogensupplyinfrastructure can be implemented.