Molten carbonate fuel cells: a technological perspective and review.

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Title: Molten carbonate fuel cells: a technological perspective and review.
Authors: Contreras, Ricardo R.1 (AUTHOR) ricardo.r.contreras@gmail.com, Almarza, Jorge2,3 (AUTHOR), Rincón, Luis2,4 (AUTHOR)
Source: Energy Sources Part A: Recovery, Utilization & Environmental Effects. Dec2025, Vol. 47 Issue 2, p1-15. 15p.
Subjects: Molten carbonate fuel cells, Electric power production, Energy consumption, Trigeneration (Energy), Hard materials, Carbon sequestration
Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) are high-temperature fuel cells that operate with a variety of fuels with high efficiency that, in addition to power generation, can be used for capturing and concentrating CO2. In the present review, the advances in the last 20 years of the key components of MCFCs are discussed: anode, cathode, support electrolytes, and electrolyte composition. The current state of the technology is such that it is routinely used for power generation in stationary power plant systems. The success of the technology is due to the high temperature of operation. The operating temperature is so high that it allows hydrocarbon fuel to be used without any external reforming system. MCFCs have several other important advantageous characteristics: can attain high-energy efficiencies, almost 60% in some cases, also when applied in a cogeneration context, and overall fuel efficiencies, accounting for electrical and thermal products, can exceed 80%. Despite significant progress in the past, some issues like component range of operating temperatures and power density needs to be overcome to meet the full expectations. Thus, a significant opportunity exists for new materials in this area. Some alternative materials and strategies to mitigate the issues are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Energy Sources Part A: Recovery, Utilization & Environmental Effects is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Molten carbonate fuel cells: a technological perspective and review.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Contreras%2C+Ricardo+R%2E%22">Contreras, Ricardo R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> ricardo.r.contreras@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Almarza%2C+Jorge%22">Almarza, Jorge</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rincón%2C+Luis%22">Rincón, Luis</searchLink><relatesTo>2,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energy+Sources+Part+A%3A+Recovery%2C+Utilization+%26+Environmental+Effects%22">Energy Sources Part A: Recovery, Utilization & Environmental Effects</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 47 Issue 2, p1-15. 15p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Molten+carbonate+fuel+cells%22">Molten carbonate fuel cells</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electric+power+production%22">Electric power production</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Energy+consumption%22">Energy consumption</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Trigeneration+%28Energy%29%22">Trigeneration (Energy)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hard+materials%22">Hard materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Carbon+sequestration%22">Carbon sequestration</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) are high-temperature fuel cells that operate with a variety of fuels with high efficiency that, in addition to power generation, can be used for capturing and concentrating CO2. In the present review, the advances in the last 20 years of the key components of MCFCs are discussed: anode, cathode, support electrolytes, and electrolyte composition. The current state of the technology is such that it is routinely used for power generation in stationary power plant systems. The success of the technology is due to the high temperature of operation. The operating temperature is so high that it allows hydrocarbon fuel to be used without any external reforming system. MCFCs have several other important advantageous characteristics: can attain high-energy efficiencies, almost 60% in some cases, also when applied in a cogeneration context, and overall fuel efficiencies, accounting for electrical and thermal products, can exceed 80%. Despite significant progress in the past, some issues like component range of operating temperatures and power density needs to be overcome to meet the full expectations. Thus, a significant opportunity exists for new materials in this area. Some alternative materials and strategies to mitigate the issues are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Energy Sources Part A: Recovery, Utilization & Environmental Effects is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/15567036.2021.2013346
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Molten carbonate fuel cells
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electric power production
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Energy consumption
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Trigeneration (Energy)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hard materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Carbon sequestration
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Molten carbonate fuel cells: a technological perspective and review.
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      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Contreras, Ricardo R.
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            NameFull: Almarza, Jorge
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            NameFull: Rincón, Luis
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 47
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              Value: 2
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            – TitleFull: Energy Sources Part A: Recovery, Utilization & Environmental Effects
              Type: main
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