Fuel Cell Technologies in Power Generation and Energy Recovery
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Science and Technology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 January 2026 | Viewed by 20
Special Issue Editors
Interests: clean energy; artificial intelligence; intelligent optimization algorithm
Interests: multi-scale optimization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs; electrolysis; hybrid reneable energy system
Interests: ceramic electrolytes; solid electrolytes; fuel cells; hydrogen
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: high-temperature proton exchange membrane; fuel cells; precious metal-based electrocatalysts; electrochemical water splitting; proton exchange membranes
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Fuel cell systems are rapidly emerging as a pivotal technology in the transition toward clean, efficient, and sustainable energy. Their ability to convert chemical energy directly into electricity with high efficiency and low emissions makes them highly attractive for various power generation and energy recovery applications. From stationary power plants to mobile energy systems and industrial waste heat recovery, fuel cell technologies are increasingly integrated into modern energy infrastructures.
This Special Issue will gather recent advances, novel designs, and applied research related to using fuel cells in power generation and energy recovery. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the development of high-efficiency fuel cell systems such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), as well as hybrid configurations incorporating batteries, supercapacitors, or renewable energy sources. This Special Issue also encourages submissions focusing on fuel cell materials and components, including catalyst development, membrane electrode assembly (MEA) optimization, bipolar plate design, and flow field/channel structure innovations for improving electrochemical performance, water and heat management, and system durability.
In addition, we welcome studies on system-level integration, control strategies, degradation mechanisms, durability prediction, fault diagnosis, fuel processing technologies, and techno-economic assessments related to fuel cell deployment in power generation and energy recovery applications.
Particular attention is given to innovations that enhance power density, extend operational lifespan, and promote the practical deployment of fuel cell systems in energy recovery scenarios, such as waste heat recovery, industrial exhaust conversion, and integrated renewable energy systems. We invite researchers, engineers, and industry experts to contribute original research articles, reviews, and case studies to this Special Issue.
Dr. Zhihua Deng
Dr. Lixin Fan
Prof. Dr. Magdalena Dudek
Guest Editors
Dr. Shengqiu Zhao
Guest Editor Assistant
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- fuel cells
- power generation
- energy recovery
- hydrogen energy
- PEMFC
- SOFC
- DMFC
- hybrid energy systems
- thermal management
- fuel cell control and optimization
- waste heat utilization
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
