Nanomaterials for Fuel Cell and Corrosion Inhibition: A Comprehensive Review

A transforming society towards sustainable industrial practices and products chooses to implement “Green Nanomaterial”, with high energy efficiency, minimizing the damage to the environment and exploitation of non-renewable energy resources. A combined overview of recent developments in green nanostructured fuel cells with enhanced durability and activity is presented in this review along with the advancements of green nano materials in the area of corrosion inhibition. Fuel cells being the next generation ecofriendly energy source, the modification to the solid oxide, microbial and alkaline fuel cell through green nanomaterial are discussed with an emphasis on electrodes, electrolyte, electrode catalysts and membrane components. In addition, the role of green nanomaterial in the form of nano metal oxides, hydroxides, grains, dendrimers, gels, composites, functionalized graphene, halloysite nanotubes and ionic liquids in greening the phenomenon of corrosion inhibition, investigated by various researchers is briefly addressed. As no single engineered green nanomaterial is emerging as unparalleled and most viable, they are evaluated according to their economic impact, diverse properties, durability and stability. Eventually, these materials with improvement in biocompatibility, solubility, fabrication and handling techniques are predicted to change the environmental and occupational scenario, with some of them already have been found to impact upon the altering global energy needs.