Application of biowaste and nature-inspired (nano)materials in fuel cells

Abstract

Industrialization and the increasing amount of by-products and residues released from industrial activities have triggered an urgent demand for the development of clean energy storage and conversion systems to eradicate or minimize the use of environmentally noxious matter. In this case, nature-inspired materials present significant potential as catalysts and nanofillers for the preparation of electrodes and nanocomposites for energy storage and conversion. These materials possess extended porous architectures, high surface areas, considerable mechanical and thermal stability, abundant reserves, and low cost. In this review, we summarize the structure and classification of natural materials that make them appropriate for application in energy storage and conversion devices. Furthermore, we focus on the applications and new advancements of nature-inspired materials in fuel cells, given that they enhance the performance of fuel cell technology.