Methanol production and purification via membrane-based technology: Recent advancements, challenges and the way forward.

Industrial revolution on the back of fossil fuels has costed humanity higher temperatures on the planet due to ever-growing concentration of carbon dioxide emissions in Earth's atmosphere. To tackle global warming demand for renewable energy sources continues to increase. Along renewables, there has been a growing interest in converting carbon dioxide to methanol, which can be used as a fuel or a feedstock for producing chemicals.

Improved mechanical strength, proton conductivity and power density in an 'all-protonic' ceramic fuel cell at intermediate temperature.

Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) have become the most efficient, clean and cost-effective electrochemical energy conversion devices in recent years. While significant progress has been made in developing proton conducting electrolyte materials, mechanical strength and durability still need to be improved for efficient applications. We report that adding 5 mol% Zn to the Y-doped barium cerate-zirconate perovskite electrolyte material can significantly improve the sintering properties, mechanical strength, durability and performance.