RESEARCH ON FUEL CELLS USING RENEWABLE ENERGY

This research's direction will provide practical benefits in the widespread usage of fuel cells to replace fossil fuels and reduce global warming caused by CO₂ emissions.

Vietnam will step lively in studying renewable fuel cells.

In this research, a researcher was nominated for being an outstanding female scientist by the Scientific Council of the L'Oreal Award - UNESCO for developing women in science. Assoc. Prof, Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van was also ranked 23rd out of 100 Typical Asian Scientists by Singapore Science Magazine, including men. She became an inspirational figure in The Light Dance Program - Countdown 2021 on Vietnam Television. She and her colleagues researched synthesizing Pt-Mo alloy nanocatalysts on nanomaterials to improve CO poisoning tolerance and reduce the cost of fuel cells that directly use methanol, a form of renewable energy.

Direct methanol fuel cell can be used for electronic devices.

Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is one of the most potential electrochemical energy converters due to its high energy density, ease of use, environmental friendly, and low operating temperature. However, the commercialization of this type of fuel cell is hampered by many factors such as high cost, low reserves, instability of platinum catalyst (Pt), and the vulnerability to poisoning by intermediates such as CO or CHO. This research project will contribute to the reduction in the use of Pt - a precious metal, while improving the performance of alloys. Compared to pure Pt, it enhances the activity and operating time of Pt electrochemical catalyst, bringing cost efficiency, operation, and high durability to commercialize this environmentally friendly fuel cell. All over the world, the climate is changing mainly due to too much CO₂ released into the atmosphere. At the same time, 91% of the world's population lives in places where air pollution exceeds world health organization (WHO) guidelines, resulting in about 4.2 million premature deaths each year. The use of fossil fuels has caused many adverse environmental problems. We need to find new solutions and practical alternatives and ensure no harmful emissions, especially transportation. Because the field causes a large proportion of air pollution, especially in densely populated areas with heavy traffic. One of them is the fuel cell. Although much hope is placed on hydrogen fuel cells, the transportation, storage, and use of pure hydrogen come with huge added costs, challenging this process with current technology.

In contrast, methanol (CH₃OH), an alcohol that does not require refrigeration, has a higher energy density and is more accessible and safer transportation. Therefore, the transition to the economy of methanol-based fuel cells is a more realistic goal. The production of electricity from methanol at room temperature requires a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). According to Prof. Oh Joong Kwon from Incheon National University, South Korea, DMFC has a higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries and can become an alternative power source for mobile devices, such as laptops and smartphones. Besides, methanol is an excellent fuel source containing hydrogen. This simple alcohol molecule contains more hydrogen and is more accessible than liquefied hydrogen. One can renovate methanol on-site at a refueling station to create fuel cells that use hydrogen to produce clean and efficient electricity. This clean fuel cell can power cars, trucks, buses, ships, cell phone towers, homes, and businesses. It is estimated that hydrogen generated from methanol can extend the range of operations for cars powered by open fuel cells from 200km with hydrogen to 800km with methanol.

The first middleweight fuel cell in the world.

By the end of 2020, Element 1 Corp (USA), a leading developer of hydrogen generation technology, in collaboration with Co-Win Hydrogen Power (China), announced the road test of the first middleweight fuel cell. Co-Win said that E1's proprietary methanol-hydrogen M-Series generator had been integrated into a midsize truck manufactured by one of the largest truck manufacturers in the world

Globally, particulate matter emissions from fossil fuel combustion engines cause millions of premature deaths annually. These dangerous emissions will not be produced by fuel cell vehicles because the only exhaust is water vapor. The M-Series generator produces no particulate matter during hydrogen generation, and when  using methanol produced from exhaust gas streams such as landfill gas or biogas, the E1 hydrogenating solution is carbon neutral - reducing unavoidable CO2 emissions in daily life as well as in production and business activities.

Dave Edlund, CEO of E1, said: “Methanol hydrogen generation is a game-changer for clean transportation.”

Fuel cell vehicles typically require pure hydrogen to generate electricity for propulsion. Previously, this hydrogen had been compressed and stored inn the vehicles, which necessitated the development of a costly network of hydrogen refueling stations. Improving clean fuel supplies is vital for medium and heavy-duty fuel cell trucks that travel long distances every day. In many parts of the world, building this infrastructure is simply not feasible. Generating hydrogen from liquid methanol helps us reduce the requirement for hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure.

Eliminate the internal combustion engine

When converting green electricity to liquid fuel, such as methanol, it's possible to utilize existing global infrastructure for storage and distribution, whilst reducing fossil fuel consumption thus cutting CO2 emissions.

Methanol and other fuels can be used as additives as stand-alone fuels for internal combustion engines and generators. they can be used to provide fuel cell power. In addition, fuel cells provide a clean and eco-friendly operation where emissions of harmful particles such as NOx and SOx are eliminated.

Methanol fuel cell technology has great potential in several fields such as marine, heavy-duty vehicles, and passenger vehicles... As a green and clean alternative to internal combustion engines and diesel generators, fuel cell technology offers many benefits such as cost savings, CO2 reduction - or even CO2 neutralization depending on the fuel source, counteract severe air pollution and climate change. Thus, renewable fuel cells are a solid alternative to fossil fuels and can contribute to green transitions in many industries around the world. In the face of the optimization and development of combustion engine technology over the past decades, many companies around the world are aiming to eliminate the internal combustion engine and commercialize fuel cell technology by reducing production time and cost as well as increasing the fuel cells's electrical efficiency

Methanol fuel cell technology has great potential in several fields such as marine, heavy-duty vehicles, and passenger vehicles... As a green and clean alternative to internal combustion engines and diesel generators, fuel cell technology offers many benefits such as cost savings, CO2 reduction - or even CO2 neutralization depending on the fuel source, counteract severe air pollution and climate change.