Toward next-generation fuel cell materials

Funding Information: This work was supported by Southeast University (SEU) project 3203002003A1 and National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under the grant 51772080 and 11604088 . Jiangsu Provincial Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent program Project No. JSSCRC2021491 . Industry-University-Research Cooperation Project of Jiangsu Province in China, Grant No. BY2021057 . Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)The fuel cell's three layers—anode/electrolyte/cathode—convert fuel's chemical energy into electricity. Electrolyte membranes determine fuel cell types. Solid-state and ceramic electrolyte SOFC/PCFC and polymer based PEMFC fuel cells dominate fuel cell research. We present a new fuel cell concept using next-generation ceramic nanocomposites made of semiconductor-ionic material combinations. A built-in electric field driving mechanism boosts ionic (O2− or H+ or both) conductivity in these materials. In a fuel cell device, non-doped ceria or its heterostructure might attain 1 Wcm−2 power density. We reviewed promising functional nanocomposites for that range. Ceria-based and multifunctional semiconductor-ionic electrolytes will be highlighted. Owing to their simplicity and abundant resources, these materials might be used to make fuel cells cheaper and more accessible.Peer reviewe