Design of Active Key Interfaces in Fuel Cells

This book focuses on the multidisciplinary teamwork for the design of key interfaces in fuel cell devices. It covers the fabrication, modelling, and operando-microanalysis sections in each chapter. Also, each chapter in the book consists of the introduction of basic theory, representative experimental results, and future prospects in each field. The book is an edited volume, intended to serve as an introductory textbook in multidisciplinary research work for the design and development of fuel cells. To fully enjoy the multidisciplinary research activities in fuel cell field, the beginners need to learn the basic knowledge and experimental data in each field. Compared with the published introductory textbooks in the field of science and engineering of fuel cells, this book has the following advantages. Firstly, it is an introductory textbook of multidisciplinary work for the design and development field of intermediate temperature (IT) solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) and high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (HT-PEFCs) . And at the same time, this book is convenient for practical research implementation in R & D of those IT-SOFC and HT-PEFC devices. Secondly recent research topics with sufficient references are included in each chapter. Scientists and engineers in the fuel cell field will obtain useful knowledge in critical review chapters in the fabrication, modeling, and operando-microanalysis fields. Finally experimental results are closely combined with the cutting edge of scientific research work in the IT-SOFC and HT-PEFC materials and devices field. For all these reasons, this book is a useful start-up in multidisciplinary work for R & D of IT-SOFC and HT-PEFC devices.

Toshiyuki Mori was an active research scientist at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Japan. He retired from NIMS in March 2021 and is now a NIMS emeritus researcher. He also served as adjunct professors at the University of Queensland (Australia, 2007 – 2016), Hokkaido University (Japan, 2008 – 2017), Charles University (Czech Republic, 2004 – 2007, 2011 – 2016) and the University of Tsukuba (Japan, 2013 – 2019). Professor Mori has an interesting background in that he spent 11 years in the ceramics industry before joining NIMS. He brings this experience in the corporate sector to his research activities and combines fundamental studies with an eye to applying this knowledge to practical challenges. His research interests include the functional interface design in SOFC and PEFC devices. He has published more than 315 articles including 9 book chapters, which have accrued more than 14,400 citations and an H-index of 63 (as of June 2024 in SCOPUS).

San Ping Jiang is a John Curtin Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Curtin University (Australia) and Distinguished Visiting Professor of Foshan Xianhu Laboratory (China). Professor Jiang has extensive academic and industrial experience, having held positions at Nanyang Technological University, CSIRO Materials and Manufacturing Division, and Ceramic Fuel Cells, Ltd. In 2016, Professor Jiang was awarded the prestigious title “John Curtin Distinguished Professor” and “Lifetime Achievement in Research” by the University Council for his distinguished national and international academic reputation and distinguished record of service to professional and public life. His research interests are in energy conversion and storage technologies including fuel cells and green hydrogen and ammonia synthesis. Professor Jiang has published ~550 journal papers, which have accrued over 32,500 citations and an H-index of 92.

Zongping Shao was born in 1973. He currently is a John Curtin Distinguished Professor at WA school of Mines: Minerals, energy and chemical engineering, Curtin University, Australia. He obtained his BSc in 1995 from Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Zhejiang University (Xixi Campus, former Hangzhou University) and his Ph.D degree in 2000 from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. After his ph. D graduation, he has been a visiting scholar at Reserches sur la Catalyse, CNRS, France for one and half years (August, 2000-Feburary, 2002), and then a postdoc at Materials Science, California Institute of Technology for three and half years (March, 2002-June, 2005). He got ARC future fellowship at 2010, and joined Curtin University at 2012. Prof. Shao’s major research areas are located at (photo)electrochemical energy storage and conversion and new energy materials, like rechargeable batteries (Lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, metal-air batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, and solid-state batteries), fuel cells, solar cells, and hydrogen production. Up to now, Prof. Shao has published more than 700 energy-related papers in various reputed journals, like Nature (5), Science (1), Nature Energy (1) with a total citation of more than 73,600 and a H-index of 131. He has been recognized as one of the highly cited researchers in the section of energy by Elsevier since 2015. He is also selected as world-highly cited researcher by (Thomson Reuters) Clarivate Analytics for the year, 2014, 201-2023. In 2022 and 2023, he is recognized as highly. cited researchers in both fields of Chemistry and Materials Science.

Michihisa Koyama is currently a Professor at Shinshu University serving as a chair of a data-driven AI laboratory. He graduated from the doctoral course in the Department of Chemical System Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Ph.D. (Eng.) (March, 2002). After serving as assistant professor at Tohoku University, he moved to the INAMORI Frontier Research Center, Kyushu University, as professor followed by a unit director at the National Institute for Materials Science. His research activities cover the wide aspects of energy from materials to systems, further to future energy vision. He was awarded the SCEJ Young Investigator Researcher Award from the Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan, in 2009, the Young Scientists' Prize, the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2014, and the SCCJ Award from the Society of Computer Chemistry, Japan in 2021. He has published more than 220 academic papers plus 13 book chapters in the chemical engineering and modelling fields.

Zhi-Peng Li received his Ph.D. degree from the National University of Singapore (2009). He worked at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan from 2009 to 2011 as a JSPS research fellow. Later, he moved to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA, as a guest researcher (2011 – 2013). Subsequently, he joined the Western Digital Corporation, Fremont, CA, USA, as program manager and principal engineer, successfully developing his career and networking in the advanced technology field while there. From 2022, he worked as the professor at Northwestern Polytechnical University in China, focusing on fuel cell research and industrial application.

Takayoshi Tanji received his Ph.D. degree from Osaka University (1978). He worked for Tohoku University as an assistant professor (1978-1990) and associate professor (1990). Meanwhile, he was a guest researcher in Arizona State University (1984-1985). Then he was appointed as a group leader of research development cooperation of Japan (ERATO JST, 1990-1994). Subsequently, he moved to Nagoya University and worked in electron holography, and developments of stereoscopic- and in situ-TEM systems as an associate professor and professor of Nagoya University. He has published more 100 academic papers in the science and engineering of the advanced TEM analysis field. He is now an emeritus professor of Nagoya University.

Roger Wepf is the director of the Center for Microscopy and Microanalysis (CMM) at the University of Queensland. He received academic degrees in cell biology and structure research in 1992 at the ETH. After a post-doctoral fellowship, Dr. Wepf was appointed junior group leader in the cell biology program at EMBL in1996. He then moved to Beiersdorf AG (BDF) for nine years as head of the analytical microscopy department, in the research division of BDF based in Hamburg. His main focus was developing cryo-preparation techniques for imaging and spectroscopy application including scanning probe techniques. Some of the instruments that found their way to the market are a versatile high-vacuum cryo-transfer system (VCT), cryo-stages for SEM, and related technology. His major research activities at ETH Zurich were focused in the field of correlative microscopy, automatic sample preparation, and imaging techniques for particle imaging and spectroscopy technology. Currently, his research direction leads to developing tools for integrative imaging and spectroscopy to explore new frontiers in structure research. He is currently also serving as president of the European Microscopy Society (EMS).

Fei Ye received his bachelor’s degree (1999), and Ph.D. degree combined with completion of the master’s degree course (2004) from Tsinghua University, China. He worked at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan from 2004 to 2010 as a JSPS research fellow and NIMS postdoctoral research fellow. Later, in NIMS, he received a formal position. In 2010, he joined the Dalian University of Technology. In the middle of 2018, he transferred to the Southern University of Science and Technology. His research interests include fuel cell materials and defects in metals. He has published more than 120 academic papers and 3 academic books. Additionally, he has written book chapters about crystal structure and defects in 6 textbooks for undergraduates.