The goal of the work presented here was to develop a simulation approach for studying the effects of materials and geometry on the performance of Li-ion Solid State Batteries (SSB). Simulation provides the opportunity to explore, with ease, different material properties and cell geometries to optimize a Li-ion SSB's performance. Simulations shown in this paper are time-dependent and consider electrochemical reaction, heat transfer, the diffusion of Li-ions and electrons in the electrolyte, and solid Li diffusion in the positive electrode. A 2D model was simulated and the results shown. The simulations were able to show discharge curves, heat flux, the concentration of Li-ions, electrons, and solid Li at any time in the discharge cycle. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Fuel cells are an important source of renewable energy technology and currently the subject of much research. Hydrogen gas, which is the main fuel source in fuel cells, is relatively easily available, and the exhaust does not consist of greenhouse gases, unlike fossil fuel-based power sources. Some of the challenges persisting in fuel cell technology are the cost of the fuel cell due to factors such as platinum catalyst loading and water management. This study reviews the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in fuel cell applications. CNTs have a large number of superior properties, including electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, and ability to support catalysts by providing an increased surface area. Carbon nanotubes offer great promise for overcoming the problems of existing fuel cells. However, they still pose challenges of functionalization on components of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), namely the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), the gas diffusion layer (GDL), and the bipolar plates. This paper discusses various experimental techniques that have achieved success in this functionalization process. Application of CNTs in fuel cells is expected to improve fuel cell performance and efficiency and bring down the cost by reducing platinum (Pt) catalyst loading

A porous iron oxide nanolayer coating is grown on LiMn₂O₄ by a facile in‐situ method. Evolution of this coating and its influence on the structural retention and electrochemical activity of LiMn₂O₄ is examined and compared to a control in the environment of an aqueous rechargeable lithium‐ion battery. Two coinciding mechanisms of porous iron oxide nanolayer deposition and their depency on electrolyte pH are identified and discussed. The coating is found to significantly reduce Li₂MnO₃ surface formation, a major source of capacity fade in LiMn₂O₄ electrodes, thereby improving the structural retention. The nanolayer was also found to improve the electrochemical stability of the underlying LiMn₂O₄ in the potential window of lithium intercalation, reduce the growth rate of mass transfer and solid electrolyte interface resistances over the control, while also providing reduced charge transfer resistances over the pristine LiMn₂O₄ material. The totality of these improvements provided by the porous iron oxide nanolayer preserved the electrochemical and structural integrity of LiMn₂O₄ over the course of 500 deep discharge cycles in aqueous media.