Understanding and Designing Novel Anode Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

非技术性：由于最近的页岩气开发，美国有丰富的天然气供应，并且迫切需要高效且环保的天然气-电能转换技术。固体氧化物燃料电池（SOFC）为这种高效且具有成本效益的转换提供了很大的希望，特别是对于分布式发电。然而，现有技术的SOFC镍金属陶瓷阳极在烃燃料的直接氧化时遭受快速性能劣化。本研究的目的是为设计新型SOFC阳极材料提供科学依据，这些材料可以在直接利用天然气作为发电燃料时保持性能稳定。本研究的目的是克服SOFC阳极失活问题，从而促进SOFC技术的快速应用和商业化。SOFC的广泛应用将产生有益的经济和环境影响，使来自丰富天然气的能源转换更有效，更环保。大学生将接受实验和计算材料科学与工程实践的培训。毕业生通常在先进的清洁能源部门找到工作。最后，将通过各种机制教育公众了解燃料电池技术的好处，例如在科学咖啡馆进行互动演示，以及专门针对农村地区高中生和代表性不足群体的“燃料电池冒险”暑期项目。技术支持：在本研究中，陶瓷氧化物将被探索用于克服限制直接利用天然气的常规镍金属陶瓷SOFC阳极的寿命的焦化和硫中毒问题。气体作为燃料。对陶瓷氧化物的基本认识将指导进一步开发用于能源和工程应用的混合离子和电子导电陶瓷材料。在这项研究中的合作努力，预计将推进高温氧化物离子和电子导电性和表面化学发生在技术上重要的能量转换设备的基本理解。重点将是对这些物理现象的分子理解，以及层状钙钛矿氧化物中不同的B位元素如何影响氧化物离子和电子电导率等本体材料特性以及电催化活性和抗焦化和硫中毒等表面特性。这项研究代表了第一个案例研究的计算预测与实验观察的SOFC高温材料的深度整合。学生将通过该项目接受教育，成为燃料电池技术的实验和计算方面的实践专家。因此，毕业生将做好充分准备，为复杂问题创造可持续的工程解决方案，为能源转换和储存的科学和技术做出贡献。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

NON-TECHNICAL: As a result of the recent shale gas developments, there are abundant supplies of natural gas in the U.S. and there is a critical need for a highly efficient and environmentally friendly natural gas-to-electrical energy conversion technology. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer great promise for such an efficient and cost-effective conversion, particularly for distributed power generation. However, the state-of-the-art SOFC nickel cermet anodes suffer from rapid performance degradation upon direct oxidation of hydrocarbon fuels. The objective of this research is to create a scientific basis for the design of novel SOFC anode materials that can maintain performance stability when directly utilizing natural gas as fuel for electricity generation. The goal of this study is to overcome SOFC anode deactivation issues, and consequently facilitate the rapid application and commercialization of SOFC technology. Widespread deployment of SOFCs will have beneficial economic and environmental impacts, making energy conversion from abundant natural gas more efficient and more environmentally benign. University students will be trained in the practice of experimental and computational material science and engineering. Graduates typically find employment in the advanced clean energy sector. Finally, the public will be educated on the benefits of fuel cell technology through various mechanisms such as interactive presentations at Science Cafes and an "Adventures in Fuel Cells" summer program that specifically targets high school students from rural areas and underrepresented groups.TECHNICAL DETAILS: In this study, ceramic oxides will be explored for overcoming the coking and sulfur poisoning problems that limit the lifetime of conventional nickel cermet SOFC anodes directly utilizing natural gas as fuel. Fundamental understanding of the ceramic oxides will guide further development of mixed ionic and electronic conducting ceramic materials for energy and engineering applications. The collaborative efforts in this research are expected to advance the fundamental understanding of high temperature oxide ion and electron conductivity and surface chemistry occurring in technologically important energy conversion devices. The focus will be on a molecular understanding of these physical phenomena and how different B-site elements in a layered perovskite oxide affect both bulk material properties such as oxide ionic and electronic conductivity and surface properties such as electrocatalytic activity and resistance to coking and sulfur poisoning. This research represents one of the first case studies for deep integration of computational predictions with experimental observations for high temperature materials in SOFCs. Students will be educated through the project to become experts in the practice of experimental and computational aspects of fuel cell technology. As a result, graduates will be well prepared to create sustainable engineering solutions to complex problems, contributing to the science and technology of energy conversion and storage.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.