Reinventing the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell: Towards 200C operation

由于燃料电池能将化学能直接转化为电能的高效率，目前人们对燃料电池的发展非常感兴趣。最受关注的两个系统是聚合物燃料电池(工作温度为100C)和固体氧化物燃料电池(工作温度为500-1000C)。后者在燃料灵活性和更便宜的(非贵金属)电极材料方面提供了显著的好处，但存在密封/长期稳定性问题，以及与高温操作相关的启动缓慢问题。在这项提案中，我们的目标是开发在100-350摄氏度之间工作的固体氧化物燃料电池，以克服这些问题。为此，我们将开发在此温度范围内表现出高离子导电性的新型质子导电电解质，以及与其一起工作的电极材料。一个关键的目标是在燃料电池运行下就地产生质子传导电解液，以简化电池的生产和操作。

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.