2^nd International Conference on Energy Materials and Fuel Cell Research August 27-28, 2018 (World Energy Congress) Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Miyako Nakayama obtained her business bachelor degree in Hosei University in Japan in March 2015. Since 2015 fall, he has been majoring in Mechanical Engineering to seek a second bachelor in the University of Idaho. In summer 2017, as a sophomore student, he had completed comprehensive research on Wind Energy based on extensive literature reviews, which covers both technological and business perspectives and has been on the process to publish her research paper.

Due to the environmental concerns from the use of traditional fuels such as coals, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently requiring power plants to meet air pollution regulations, which could cause power shortages and even blackouts in the state of Texas. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of using onshore and offshore wind turbines (WTs) in Texas based on levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) analysis. This study is based on a scenario that multiple wind turbines can be installed in available onshore lands and offshore seas of the state of Texas. A commercial WT is selected for both onshore and offshore situations and the corresponding LCOEs were analyzed. Secondly, the maximum number of WTs which can be installed in the available areas was determined based on a spatial distance criterion. Lastly, the maximum annual energy output and the maximum average power output for both situations in Texas was estimated. Although offshore WTs are considered to be more promising technology which can produce more energy and power these days, our results showed that the selection of the two wind turbine types may vary using different indices and number of turbines. 1. In terms of LCOE, onshore WT is more economical due to the lower LCOE. 2. In terms of Capacity Factor, offshore WT is more power-efficient due to the higher capacity factor. 3. In terms of Annual/Average energy and power output, A. For a single WT, an offshore WT produces more power and energy than onshore WT. B. For WT farm, onshore WTs produce more power due to more number of turbines that can be installed in available windy land.

Hiroshi Nishiyama completed his Ph.D. at Nagaoka University of Technology, Japan in 2005. In 1998–2013, he was an assistant professor at the Analysis and Instrumentation Center at Nagaoka University of Technology. He is currently a principal project researcher in the R&D Laboratory of Artificial Photosynthetic Chemical Process (ARPChem) at The University of Tokyo. His research focuses on the development of high-performance photoanode electrodes and high-performance PEC systems.

Photocatalysis or photoelectrochemistry are attractive developing fields of engineering for building free-running sunlight-driven water splitting to generate H2 and O2. We are surveying solar-spectrum-responding semiconductive materials as the candidates for the visible light absorbers in the H2+O2 harvesting devices. We have been fabricating and testing water photo-splitting devices composed of a pair of photocathode (p-type, for H2) and photoanode (n-type, for O2) both decorated with catalysts for evolving those gases. As for photocathode, we developed H2 evolving flat layered sheets based on chalcopyrite Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS, the cutoff wavelength of absorption ~ 1100 nm) and its doped versions with Zn, S, etc. The photocurrent obtained by the solar simulator (AM 1.5G) can afford more than 10% of solar hydrogen conversion efficiency. The photoanode material is the remaining problem to solve. BiVO4 (~540 nm), paired with CIGS, realized a stable operation for the stoichiometric faradaic evolution of H2 and O2, however, the maximum solar-to-H2 efficiency has been below 4 %. Obviously, we need n-type light absorbers with longer cutoff wavelength. We are also developing transition metal nitrides and oxynitrides for the sunlight absorbers. Ta3N5 (~600 nm) has been the most intensively investigated, as particles embedded on metal layers (particle transferred sheets) and flat layered thin films, both of which can serve as photoanodes. Foreign materials can be assembled as the background layer or capping layer for the Ta3N5 layer to improve the electronic properties and robustness as an electrode immersed in the electrolytic solution. We will discuss the best performance for Ta3N5 and oxynitrides as O2-evolving photoelectrodes energized by solar irradiation.

Dr. Yousif Makeen began his geology studies in 2008 at the University of Malaya, Malaysia. In 2011 he received the BSc degree in Applied Geology from University of Malaya. His MSc was converted to PhD by the University Senate based on his excellent performance. His professional career began in 2015 when he received his PhD from University of Malaya. His research interests are in oil, Source rock Characterization and Petroleum Systems Modeling. Throughout the years he has presented his research work in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. He has published 24 papers in ISI journals and conducted many consulting projects for major oil companies. He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Malaya.

Malaysia and Asian region have a number of petroleum-bearing sedimentary basins commonly associated with coal and carbonaceous shale strata. Shales are the common source rocks of conventional petroleum resources whilst coal although a source for conventional liquid hydrocarbons is more widespread as unconventional resources, such as cannel coal and coal bed methane (CBM). Coals within the oil & gas producing provinces of Malaysia and SE Asian region, in general, are known to be oil-prone. However, with the inevitable decline in conventional petroleum, remaining hydrocarbons will be more difficult to find and more expensive to develop. Set against the backdrop of world energy consumption projected to increase by 49% by 2035, alternative sources of energy are being sought. Petroleum geoscientists are exploring unconventional source/reservoir systems such as the carbonaceous shale, oil shale, tight sand, coal bed methane and fractured basement. In this study, shale, and siltstone which are an importance sedimentary faces for hydrocarbon exploration in the eastern Chenor, Pahang has been investigated using organic geochemical and petrological methods as well as Micro-CT, SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). The Tertiary sediments of eastern Chenor show a general trend of low thermal maturity based on vitrinite reflectance measurements (<0.5 %Ro) and Tmax (<435oC). Organic petrological studies revealed that analyzed carbonaceous shale and shales are rich in liptinite macerals (>20 vol. %) such as aliginite (Botryococcus algae), sporinite, cutinite and amorphous organic matter indicating oil-prone Type I and Type II kerogens. Pyrolysis data also show a trend from predominant oil-prone Type I and II kerogens to a mixed oil and gas-prone Type II-III kerogens within the studied samples except for the siltstones samples which have low HI value indicating no potential for hydrocarbon generation. The EOM result shows that all the carbonaceous shale samples possess excellent values for the bitumen/EOM and hydrocarbon (HC) content. The studied shale samples have very good petroleum potential. However, analyzed siltstones show poor to fair petroleum potential based on for the bitumen/EOM and hydrocarbon (HC) content. This is supported by plots of TOC content versus extractable organic matter (EOM) and hydrocarbon yields versus TOC content commonly used in estimating the hydrocarbon generative potential of the source rocks.

Najla Mohammed Khusayfan received her PhD in 2007 in Solid State Physics from King Abdulaziz University, and in 2016 she was Head of Physics Department at the University of Jeddah. In 2018, she obtained a degree as a professor in experimental solid state physics from King Abdulaziz University. She has published more than 21 papers in the field of Solid State Physics.

ITO thin films were prepared by electron beam evaporation of ceramic ITO target. The films were subsequently annealed in an air atmosphere at the temperatures 300 degrees C and 600 degrees C in order to improve their optical and electrical properties. The crystal structure and morphology of the films are investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope techniques, respectively. The films exhibited a cubic structure with the predominant orientation of growth along (222) direction and the crystallite size increases by rising annealing temperature. Transparency of the films, over the visible light region, is increased by annealing temperature. The resulting increase in the carrier concentration and in the carrier mobility decreases the resistivity of the films due to annealing. The absorption coefficient of the films is calculated and analyzed. The direct allowed optical band gap for as-deposited films is determined as 3.81 eV; this value is increased to 3.88 and 4.0 eV as a result of annealing at 300 degrees C and 600 degrees C, respectively. The electrical sheet resistance is significantly decreased by increasing annealing temperature, whereas the figure of merit is increased.

Mymona Mohsen Abutalib received her Ph.D. degree in Radiation Physics and Material Science in 2005, from King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She got promoted to be a Professor of Radiation Physics and Material Science in 2016, and now is working in King Abulaziz University. She has worked in the Physics Laboratories in King Abulaziz 2 University, King Khaled University and Cairo University for Radiation and Material Science and Nano Materials for about 10 years. She has about 45 published research papers in the same scientific fields. Abutalib has won scientific awards for uniqueness in scientific researches for several years.

Samples from PM-355 sheets were irradiated with gamma doses at levels between 10 and 120 kGy. The modifications in the irradiated samples have been studied as a function of dose using different characterization techniques such as thermo gravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and color difference studies. The gamma irradiation of PM-355 in the dose range 20-80 kGy resulted in an improvement in its thermal stability with an increase in the activation energy of thermal decomposition. The melting temperature of the PM-355 polymer, Tm, was found to be a probe of the crystalline domains of the polymer. At the dose range 20-80 kGy, defect generated destroys the crystalline structure so reducing the melting temperature. In addition, structural property studies using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed on irradiated and non-irradiated PM-355 samples. The results indicate that both the degree of ordering and the absorbance of the PM-355 polymer are dependent on the gamma dose. Further, the transmission of these samples in the wavelength range 200-2500 nm, as well as any color changes, was studied. The color intensity E was greatly increased with increasing the gamma dose, accompanied by a significant increase in the whiteness and yellow color components.

Prof Hasi Rani Barai is the assistant professor in the School of Mechanical and IT Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Korea, from 2015. She worked as a postdoctoral research fellow in the dept. of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Woman's University, Seoul, Korea. She worked as a postdoctoral research fellow in KCAP(Korea center for artificial photosynthesis) in dept. of Chemistry, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea. She received her PhD in the dept. of Chemistry, Inha University, Korea, Master of Science (Physical organic chemistry) and BSc in Chemistry in Dhaka University, Bangladesh. She published about 41scientific journals.She did several invited speaker/oral/poster presentations at national/international conferences. Research interest in nanotechnology, nanomaterials, materials preprocess, energy storage devices, electrochemistry, and supercapacitors.

This study demonstrated the annealing-free synthesis of K-doped mixed-phase TiO2 (anatase and rutile, AR) nanofibers (K-TNF) on Ti foil at 150 C assisted by KOH(aq.)for electrochemical supercapacitors (ESCs) applications. The aggregated network and the average diameter of K-TNF have slightly decreased with the increase of KOH(aq.) concentrations from 1 to 3 M, while the amount of K-doping, Ti3+ interstitials, and –OH functional groups was substantially increased. The TiO2 phase was entirely mixed of rutile and anatase, AR phase. All the K-TNF modified Ti electrodes (K-TNF/Ti) exhibited quasi-rectangular shaped cyclic voltammograms (CVs) in a wide potential range and the specific capacitance (Cs) for the optimal electrode with mixed AR phase TiO2 was ca. 70.30⁓95.18 mF/cm2,obtained from the CV (scan rate, 5mV/s) and charge-discharge (CD, current density, 50µA/cm2) measurements, respectively. The higher Cs for the optimal K-TNF/Ti electrode can be ascribed to the synergistic effect of mixed AR phase, a high percentage of K-doping (ca.20.20%), and Ti3+ interstitials (ca.18.20 %), respectively. The directional electron transport through the 1D channel as well as the –OH functional groups on the K-TNF surface is also contribute to enhancing Cs. The K-TNF/Ti electrode discovered excellent stability with the Cs retention of ca. 95% and a very small change of internal series resistance (Rs) and charge transfer resistance (Rct) at the electrode‖electrolyte interface after 3000-CD cycles.

S. Venkatesan received his PhD degree (2009) in chemistry from National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan. He has expertise in preparation, characterization, and utilization of polymer-supported catalysts for efficient and selective organic functional group transformations in the presence of oxygen. He has been utilized these catalysts for the preparation of various chemically modified electrodes for electrochemical sensor and battery applications. In recent years, he has been focused on the fabrication of outdoor and indoor dye-sensitized laboratory and sub-module quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). He has successfully assembled these cells after his systematic research in iodide and cobalt-based liquid, polymer, polymer gel electrolytes with and without nanofillers such as nanosized metal oxides, metal carbides, and graphene oxide sponge. In further, he prepared printable electrolytes for DSSCs by altering the viscosity of the polymer electrolytes. These printable electrolytes are beneficial for the role-role-printing process and mass production of DSSCs.

Statement of the problem: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising technology owing to their high-power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) under room light conditions and low manufacturing cost with respect to conventional silicon solar cells. Nowadays, the internet of things (IoT) is attracting worldwide technological interest because it delineates associations between various small devices. However, the problems related to power these devices have become significant. Among the several power supply systems, indoor DSSCs will be the most promising for a continuous power supply to IoT devices. In the literature, only a few studies have been reported about the performance of liquid-state DSSCs using iodide electrolytes under room-light conditions. Since relatively few electrons are excited, the recombination of the excited electrons with electrolytes strongly affects the open circuit voltage (Voc) of the DSSCs. In addition, because of the notable decrease in excited holes, less iodide will be required to minimize the holes. These two effects significantly decrease the performance of DSSCs under room light illumination. Methodology: To solve these problems, in this study, new nanocomposite electrolytes (NCEs) were prepared by mixing various metal oxides nanofillers (NFs) and cobalt poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) polymer gel electrolytes (PGEs). These NCEs were utilized to fabricate the quasi-solid-state DSSCs (QS-DSSCs). The performance of QS-DSSCs using MK-2 dye under 200 lux was studied and compared. Findings: The PCE (20.11%) of the QS-DSSCs using 4 wt% ZnO NFs was higher than those of the liquid version (18.91%) and other DSSCs. This was mainly due to the decrease in the capacitance and increase in the recombination resistance of the QS-DSSCs using ZnO NFs that contributed to the high Voc of the related DSSC. This cell showed stable, long-term PCE at room temperature (~1000 h). Conclusion: The ZnO/PVDF-HFP NCEs were proven to be efficient and stable for preparing high-performance indoor QS-DSSCs.

Shrok Allami is a scientific researcher in the ministry of science and technology/ renewable energy directory/ department of hydrogen and biofuel. She has completed her PhD in 2007 from University Technology, Iraq. She has published more than25 papers in reputed journals, participates at more than 16 national and international conferences as a researcher and at their comities, and has been serving as an editorial board member in Iraqi scientific journals.

Electric energy generation from the association of organic materials in the wastewater by microbes using microbial fuel cell (MFC) is one of the developing techniques used to generate energy for some applications. The goal of this project was to construct low-cost, double-chambered MFCs that harvest electricity and produce reclaimed water from wastewater. MFCs were constructed from cheap alternatives to traditionally used expensive Nafion membranes and platinum cathodes. Low-Density Polyethylene, aluminum and graphite for membrane, cathode, and anode respectively were used to construct double chamber MFC. For power generation the double-chambered consist wastewater and salt solution at the anode and cathode sides respectively. The MFC produced about 0.087 mA/cm2 of anode area at a potential of more than 842 mV. MFC efficiency 0.49%. A 3 MFCs series connected to produce 2.232 V and 67% fuel cell efficiency. There are enormous methods to treat petroleum refinery wastewaters (PRW) that contain water-soluble hydrocarbons which cannot be separated by physical methods. Using microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a new PRW treatment method. Potassium permanganate as cathodic electron acceptors in the cathode apartment of MFC with low-density polyethylene membrane instead of expensive Nafion was used in to treat PRW taken from Al Dura refinery, Iraq. The effects of potassium permanganate amount on the MFC performance and PRW treatment results were investigated. An electrochemical property of the cell was attained from empirical polarization curves. Maximum power production at the room temperature of 1.0032 W/m2 using 0.125 g/L of permanganate concentration, the maximum COD removal efficiency was 71.24 % during 48 hours.

Dr. Ahmed Salem Alshahrie is the director of the Nanotechnology center and head of the Physics department at King Abdulaziz University. He has BSc, in Physics in 2001, King Abdulaziz University; MPhil in Physics, 2007 University of Wales Swansea, Swansea UK. PhD, in Physics, Swansea University, Swansea UK. Teaching different courses in the Physics Department. He spent a good time at a well recognized research center. His research work is mainly focused on Photonic Nanomaterials, Raman Spectroscopy, nanostructure, Synthesis, Characterization applications. He has a good number of articles published in revered international journals.

Renewable energy is quite important for the future energy demands. It also can overcome the global warming and CO2 emissions created by fossil fuels combustion. Sunlight heat and other sources of heat are considered as a good sources for renewable energy. Thermoelectric materials (TE) are promising as energy generators, by means converting heat into electrical energy. In this work cobalt hydroxide (β-Co(OH)2) nanoplatelets were synthesized by the microwave chemical assisted route and studied for their thermoelectric properties. Uniform nanoplatelets were produced with a thickness and diameter around 8 and 100 nm, respectively. The TE measurements revealed a giant positive value for Seebeck coefficient, which is around 50,000 µV/K. This positive value indicating a p-type semiconductor. It was observed to slightly increase by increasing the temperature from room temperature to 400 K. The electrical conductivity of this nanostructure has a semiconductor behavior with a moderate value, which has been observed to increase from 0.4 to around 3 S/m by increasing the temperature in the above-mentioned range. The power factor value was calculated and found to strongly depend on the temperature. It drastically increased from 500 to 9000 µW/m.K2 by increasing the temperature from room temperature to 400 K. These preliminary results are quit promising for future TE materials and might be suitable for thermoelectric power generators.

Fayin Zhang is a PhD student in the State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering at Donghua University. Now he is an exchange student in the Research Institute for Soft Matter and Biomimetics, Department of Physics, School of Physics and Mechanical & Electrical Engineering at Xiamen University. His research interests include flexible conductive electrode materials, perovskite solar cells and perovskite light emitting diodes.

Recently, the rapid development of the modern electronics gives rise to higher demands on the flexible and wearable energy resources1–3. It is urgently needed to develop energy devices which are lightweight, thin and flexible. In this regard, these years, many efforts have been made to integrate energy devices by combining solar cells and ESC or repeatedly rechargeable lithium-ion batteries4-7. Up to now, most of the work mainly focuses on the incorporation of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with chemical battery power packs which based on different substrate materials and structure design. However, the sealing requirement of the DSSC devices made the fabrication very complex to prevent the electrolyte leakage and evaporation. In addition, the performance of the DSSC still could not meet the ideal requirement of energy storage devices, leading to a low overall energy conversion and storage efficiency. Here, we report an ultrathin flexible photo-charging power pack that integrates a perovskite solar cell (PSC) and electrochemical supercapacitor (ESC) on bi-polar TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNARs)8. Instead of two independent components, the integrated sandwich-type device allows the direct injection of the electrons generated by the PSCs into the ESCs through shared highly ordered bi-polar TNARs. Meanwhile, the holes separated from the perovskite layer divert into a positive electrode of ESCs through an external circuit effectually. When the flexible photo-supercapacitor was illuminated with simulated solar light, the voltage of ESC was increased to 0.63 V within 30 s at the beginning of the charging period immediately. The optimized power pack exhibits a remarkable overall photoelectric conversion (4.9%) and storage efficiency up to 80%, with fast response and superior cycling capability. To meet applicable demands with a larger output voltage, these photo-supercapacitors are successfully woven into “bamboo slip” architecture, which can be folded, bent and allows tuning the open-circuit voltage (> 2.4 V) by charging the number of photo-supercapacitor strips.

Gang Zhao is a PhD candidate in the state key laboratory for modification of chemical fibers and polymer materials, college of materials science and engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China. Her main research direction investigated the organic-inorganic nanohybrid fluorescence chemosensor, and used to environmental and biological sample, in addition, which can trace cell morphology from time to time by a quantitative increase in the concentration of different metal ions. Has her expertise in evaluation and passion for improving the health and wellbeing. Her open and contextual evaluation model based on responsive constructivists creates new pathways for improving healthcare. She has built this model after years of experience in research, evaluation, teaching, and administration both in hospital and education institutions. The foundation is based on the fourth-generation evaluation (Guba& Lincoln, 1989) which is a methodology that utilizes the previous generations of evaluation: measurement, description, and judgment. It allows for value-pluralism. This approach is responsive to all stakeholders and has a different way of focusing.

During recent decades, Fluorescence sensing using small molecule probes has been one of the most powerful and popular tools to help us monitor and visualize amounts of samples in a biological system because of their simplicity, high sensitivity, as well as excellent spatiotemporal resolution. Aluminum ion is an essential trace prevalent element, an excessive amount of aluminum in the human body could be believed to cause health issues. We reported herein the design, synthesis, and environmental, biological evaluations of a novel bipyridine fluorescence sensor is used to recognize aluminum ions, which is induced by Al3+ lead to a highly selective fluorescence “turn-on” response toward Al3+ over other metal ions with micromolar sensitivity. The 1:1 stoichiometric structure between RhBD and Al3+ were supported through Job’s plot, 1H NMR, FTIR, ESI-MS. The analytical results obtained through UV-vis and fluorescence spectrophotometry display that linear range and the limit the detection (LOD) of the present sensor for Al3+ are 0.8~70 μM and 0.33×10-7 M, respectively. The present probe was used to the detection of Al3+ in drinking water with the recoveries ranging from 99.2 to 100.7%, and fluorescence imaging for living HeLa cells.

Wei Gang is a PhD candidate in the state key laboratory for modification of chemical fibers and polymer materials, college of materials science and engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China. My main research is about preparing amphipathic target fluorescent recognition molecules, and applied to specifically identify tumor cells and can track cell morphology from time to time. On the other hand, there are achievements in the field of fluorescent probes, a series of rhodamine and fluorescein fluorescent probes were prepared and synthesized, and the cations, anions and amino acids could be specifically identified.

Transition metal ions have played a crucial role in the field of environment and biology, the traditional detection methods have some limitations, low detection limit, narrow linear range and single detection. A fluorescent probe has used on the biological and environmental analysis owning to extremely broad response range, high selectivity, real-time monitoring capability, anti-interference and low detection limit and so on. And design and synthesis of receptor molecules with selective recognition have attracted much attention in recent years. In this paper, rhodamine and phenyl isothiocyanate were used to design and synthesize fluorescent probes that can efficiently detect mercury ions. It was found that the probe (ACHL) was also able to selectively recognize Hg2+ in DMSO/water(v/v,7:3), and detection of Hg2+ does not disturb by the addition of other ions and show high selectivity. The probe possesses identification stability of Hg2+ about 3 min and displays very fast real-time detection performance. The linear range of the probe is 1-20 uM, and the detection limit of ACHL was 0.31 uM. Simultaneously, the probe was also applied to biological cell experiments for detection of imaging of Hg2+. The probe shows good solubility in MDSO/water, lower detection limit, and well cell permeability. The cytotoxicity of the probe was measured, found that the probes have less cytotoxic in the concentration of probe was less than 100 μM. Therefore, the probes were able to trace intracellular Hg2+ by fluorescence imaging in living cells.

Pedro Sanchez-Camacho received a Chemistry´s degree from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM) in 2012. Later, he obtained a master´s degree in Material Science and Engineering in same University. Nowadays, he studies a PhD in a Materials Science and Engineering focusing in the development of ceramic oxide membranes in order to separate CO2 from a gas mixture. He is especially interested in solid state chemistry, ceramic synthesis, sorption processes on ceramics, catalysis, inorganic membranes for gas separation and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC´s). As part of his work, some papers have been published on referred journals such as Journal of Physical Chemistry and Journal of Energy Chemistry, among others.

Gas separation processes have become one of the most promising strategies for different industrial applications; carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) separation among them. Within this context, syngas is composed of hydrogen and carbon oxides, and it is usually produced at high temperatures. Therefore, H2 enrichment, through the carbon oxides separation is of great interest. On CO2 separation, different membrane systems have been developed, including zeolites, polymers, and ceramics. Especially, the so-called dense dual-phase membranes have shown very interestingly CO2 separation properties at high temperatures. This kind of membrane systems is produced by a porous solid support infiltrated with molten carbonates, where ceramic supports must ideally have oxygen ionic and electronic conductive properties. CO2 permeation is performed by the reaction of oxygen ions from the ceramic oxide with the CO2 present on the upstream side, producing carbonate ions, which diffuse through the molten carbonate phase due to CO2 partial pressure gradients on both membrane sides. CO2 is desorbed on the downstream side through the reversible decarbonation process and swept from the surface. Oxygen ions are reincorporated and diffused on the ceramic phase as a consequence of decarbonization. Since perovskites have good ionic-electronic conduction properties, some of them have been incorporated to dense ceramic-carbonate membranes, increasing CO2 permeation. In this work, a composite (doped ceria and perovskite) was synthesized, sintered and infiltrated with molten carbonates, showing that it is able to perform both processes; the CO oxidation at the surface and subsequent CO2 permeation through the molten carbonate phase. CO conversion and CO2 recovery efficiencies were 39.6 and 64.6% at 900 °C, respectively. Moreover, results in evidence that the perovskite phase importantly improve the oxygen permeation from sweep to feed side (inverse permeation), enhancing CO oxidation and CO_3^(2-)formation, without releasing oxygen on the feed side.

Derek has completed his BEng degree in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies from Glyndwr University. He has also completed his MSc degree in Renewable Energy Systems from Loughborough University within the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST). He is currently in the third year of a four year PhD with integrated studies. His PhD research is part of a wider project in the Centre for Doctoral Training in Fuel Cells and Their Fuels which includes four other partner universities including the University of Birmingham, University College London, Imperial College London and the University of Nottingham.

Due to increasing global energy consumption and carbon emissions from using fossil fuels as a primary energy source, low carbon electricity generation is increasingly important as society is shifting towards a more sustainable and electrified future to reduce carbon emissions and its effect on the environment. Polymer electrolyte fuel cells are a promising technology which can provide efficient electricity generation with zero carbon emissions. However, their reliability and durability are one of the main challenges to widespread commercialization. Improving these aspects is necessary for achieving lifetime targets. Diagnostics and prognostics are key components in a strategy to improve reliability and durability. The challenge of current methods to accurately model degradation and predict lifetime is highly complex due to the multiple interrelated degradation mechanisms. This research presents a diagnostic fuzzy inference system approach for health management of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. The investigation focused on the diagnosis of membrane chemical degradation as this was identified as a top priority. The fuzzy inference system facilitates the connection between operating conditions and subsequent degradation modes. An inference calculation is performed based on rules developed from fuel cell degradation knowledge without the need for complex mathematical models. This fuzzy diagnostic approach enables enhanced health management allowing for proactive decision-making thereby improving fuel cell reliability and durability. This increases fuel cell availability and lifetime resulting in a more valuable product. Fuel cell testing was conducted under various operating conditions known to cause membrane chemical degradation. Results support the proposed rules for the diagnostic fuzzy inference system.

Byung-Keun Oh received his Ph.D. degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Sogang University for his work on protein chip for detection of pathogens existing in contaminated environment in 2003. He worked then as a postdoctoral fellow in Northwestern University from 2004 to 2006. In 2006, he joined the faculty as a professor in Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Sogang University. His research interests mainly lie in the interdisciplinary area which can be termed as "biotechnology and bioenergy", especially the development of nanoparticle-based biodetection schemes and the enhancement of biological conversion efficiency in gas based fermentation

As chemical methods to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2), catalysis, electrocatalysis, and photocatalysis methods have been studied to obtain valuable products such as methanol, formic acid, and formaldehyde from CO2. However, chemical catalytic reaction methods require high-temperature and high-pressure operating conditions and electric/photodynamic energy, with the drawbacks of a low selectivity and overall conversion yield. Biological CO2 transformation technologies have been highlighted as an alternative, because they have shown a high selectivity and conversion yield under ambient operation conditions. However, in a biological reaction process using a gas substrate, the overall reaction rate is limited by the low gas solubility and slow gas–liquid mass transfer rate. In this study, methyl-functionalized magnetic silica nanoparticles (methyl-MSNs) were synthesized and applied to a CO2–water system to evaluate gas–liquid mass transfer. The addition of methyl-MSNs increased the solubilized CO2 concentration by 31.1% and the volumetric mass transfer coefficient was 78.3% higher than that in a control experiment without nanoparticles. The addition of methyl-MSNs in the formate dehydrogenase reaction resulted in a 12.0% increase in formic acid production and could decrease the reaction time required to finish the batch enzyme reaction from 1.5 h to 1.0 h. This result showed that the addition of methyl-MSNs could be useful for biological processes, including enzyme reactions, when using a gas substrate to improve productivity. Acknowledgement: This research was supported by C1 Gas Refinery Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (2017M3D3A1A01037006-2).