The innovative contribution of additive manufacturing towards revolutionizing fuel cell fabrication for clean energy generation: A comprehensive review

S.A. Rasaki, C. Liu, C. Lao, H. Zhang and Z. Chen

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2021, vol. 148, issue C

Abstract: Additive manufacturing (AM) is sometimes referred to as 3D printing. It is a technology useful for fabricating both structural and energy devices. Of great concern to this review is promising nature of AM for engineering fuel cells for clean energy conversion. AM techniques are useful for the fabrication of fuel cell components, and they offer waste minimization, low-cost, and complex geometric structures. In this review, significance of different AM techniques towards revolutionizing fuel cell fabrication is given. The aim is to unravel the importance and status of 3D-printed fuel cells, and hence provides researchers and scientists with extensive opportunities of AM techniques for fuel cell engineering. After careful selection of state-of-the-art literatures, about 140 research articles which are directly related to this field are evaluated, analyzed and used for discussions. Different kinds of AM techniques of relevance to electrolytes, electrodes and other key components (e.g. gas diffusion layers and bipolar plates) fabrication are explicitly discussed. Among the techniques, the best approaches are recommended for further studies. Advantages associated with these techniques are indicated for the benefit of those whose interests matter most on clean energy production. The challenges researchers are facing in the use of AM for fuel cell fabrication are identified. Possible solutions to the identified challenges are suggested as way forward to further development in this research area. It is expected that this review article will benefit engineers and scientists who have interest on clean energy conversion devices.

Keywords: 3D printing; Printable powder material; Printable liquid material; Fuel cell classification; Energy conversion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2021.111369

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