Application of functional coatings in water electrolyzers and fuel cells

Hydrogen, a sustainable energy carrier, plays a pivotal role in decarbonizing various industrial sectors. Key devices such as water electrolyzers and fuel cells enable a sustainable hydrogen cycle by producing hydrogen using renewable energies and converting hydrogen into electricity. The efficiency...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNanoscale Vol. 17; no. 14; pp. 8289 - 83
Main Authors Zhou, Jiaxin, Ming, Fangwang, Liang, Hanfeng
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Royal Society of Chemistry 03.04.2025
Subjects
Coatings
Critical components
Diffusion layers
Electrocatalysts
Electrolytic cells
Fuel cells
Gaseous diffusion
Hydrogen production
Industrial applications
Renewable energy
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Summary:Hydrogen, a sustainable energy carrier, plays a pivotal role in decarbonizing various industrial sectors. Key devices such as water electrolyzers and fuel cells enable a sustainable hydrogen cycle by producing hydrogen using renewable energies and converting hydrogen into electricity. The efficiency of these devices is primarily determined by electrocatalysts and other critical components like membranes, gas diffusion layers and bipolar plates. The dynamic and complex triple-phase reactions as well as the corrosive operational environments in these devices present significant challenges in achieving optimal performance and durability. This review not only summarizes recent advances in functional coatings but also elucidates the underlying mechanisms by which coatings modulate interfacial interactions and mitigate degradation. We further propose a roadmap for designing next-generation multifunctional coatings, emphasizing their potential to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial applications. This review summarizes recent advances in functional coatings in water electrolyzers and fuel cells, covering both compositional design and mechanism understanding of coating materials.
Bibliography:Jiaxin Zhou is currently pursuing a Master's degree at Xiamen University. Her main research interest focuses on the development of anti-corrosion coatings for water electrolysis application.
Dr Hanfeng Liang is currently an Associate Professor at Xiamen University and affiliated with the State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces. His research interests include electrosynthesis, batterolyzers, aqueous batteries, and functional coatings. He has published over 100 papers with more than 16 000 citations and an H-index of 55. Dr Liang is a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (Cross-Field) and has been included in the Stanford/Elsevier World's Top 2% Scientists: Career-long Impact List for two consecutive years. Currently he serves as a Subject Editor for the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
Dr Fangwang Ming received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in 2022. Following his doctoral studies, he worked as a Senior Engineer at Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) from 2022 to 2024, focusing on the R&D of next-generation lithium-ion battery technologies. Currently, Dr Ming is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at KAUST, where he conducts both fundamental and applied research in rechargeable battery systems. His expertise lies in the interfacial and interphasial chemistries within electrochemical energy storage devices.
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ISSN:2040-3364
2040-3372
2040-3372
DOI:10.1039/d5nr00137d