Developing high-performance and durable non-precious metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for advancing the commercialization of anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Mn-Co spinel (MCS) represents a novel class of ORR electrocatalysts offering high activity, excellent long-term durability, and low cost. However, challenges such as particle agglomeration, limited electrical conductivity, and insufficient structural stability hinder their practical application. Modifying the microstructure and electronic properties of MCS via different supports presents an effective strategy to address these limitations. In this work, Mn_1.5Co_1.5O₄ nanoparticles were hydrothermally grown on three distinct supports—XC-72R carbon black, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and Fe-N-C—to construct MCS/XC-72R, MCS/CNT, and MCS/Fe-N-C composite catalysts, thereby enhancing dispersion and conductivity for synergistic performance improvement. Electrochemical analysis reveals that compositing MCS with Fe-N-C significantly boosts AEMFC power output by constructing hierarchical porous architectures and strong interfacial electronic interactions, which synergistically increase active site density and mass transport efficiency. Conversely, while MCS/CNT exhibits improved intrinsic activity, its performance is limited by pore blockage induced by one-dimensional entanglement and increased hydrophilicity. These results demonstrate that rational design of the carrier-spinel interface effectively optimizes reaction kinetics and mesopore distribution, reinforcing mass transport and ultimately enhancing device power output.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are energy conversion devices, which have various advantages, such as wide fuel applicability, high energy conversion efficiency and easy utilization of waste heat. However, SOFCs still have problems for commercialization, such as low stability and short working life. Due to the interaction of flow field, temperature field and electric field, the non-uniform flow field can easily lead to local temperature gradient and thermal stress in single cells, which causes irreversible damage to the SOFCs stack. Optimizing the uniformity of the flow field is a key to improve the stability and life of SOFCs. This paper summarizes the flow field design and optimization of planar SOFCs stacks.

Solid oxide direct ammonia fuel cell (SO-DAFC) can be used to convert ammonia into electricity through direct electrochemical oxidation. The anode materials of SO-DAFC not only need to have high ionic and electronic conductivity, but also need to have high catalytic activity for ammonia decomposition. The nitriding effect of ammonia on most anode materials would reduce the electrochemical performance of the anode materials, resulting in low catalytic activity of ammonia decomposition and poor stability, which restricts the commercialization process of SO-DAFC. The research progress of solid oxide direct ammonia fuel cell anode materials is summarized from the aspects of electrochemical oxidation of ammonia gas on anode and different types of anode materials and the optimization direction of anode materials is prospected.