Reinventing the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell: Towards 200C operation

Completed

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Fuel Cells, Stationary applications)
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Fuel Cells, Mobile applications)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr P Slater
School of Chemistry
University of Birmingham

Standard

EPSRC

01 July 2017

28 February 2019

20 months

£196,452

Energy

West Midlands

Energy : Energy

Dr P Slater, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham

Dr PA Anderson, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham

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

07/02/19