Reinventing the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell: Towards 200C operation

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There is currently huge interest in the development of fuel cells as a result of their high efficiencies for converting chemical energy directly into electrical energy. The two systems attracting the most interest are polymer fuel cells (operating <100C) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (operating 500-1000C). The latter offer significant benefits in terms of fuel flexibility and cheaper (non-precious metal) electrode materials, but suffer from sealing/long term stability problems, as well as slow start up issues, associated with the high temperature operation. In this proposal we aim to target the development of solid oxide fuel cellls that operate at temperatures between 100-350C to overcome such issues. To this aim we will develop new proton conducting electrolytes that display high ionic conductivity in this temperature range, as well as electrode materials that operate with them. A key aim is to generate the proton conducting electrolyte in situ, under fuel cell operation, to allow a simplified cell production and operation.