Improved fuel cell performance discovered: Long-lasting results achieved through increased water vapor conductivity, according to new research.
In a groundbreaking development, a team of researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), TU Dresden, and the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW) have created a new smart material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). This discovery could potentially make SOFCs more durable, efficient, and cost-effective, bringing lower-temperature SOFCs closer to reality.
The team focused on a ceramic material called barium-niobium-molybdenum oxide (Ba7Nb4MoO20). Professor Masatomo Yashima, the team leader, has been instrumental in the discovery of this 'smart material' that enhances oxygen-ion mobility within ceramics while absorbing water.
Water vapor plays a crucial role in the new material. When exposed to water vapor, the material absorbs water, adding more interstitial oxygen ions (O2−) to the structure. This can be likened to extra parking spaces where ions can hop through, making it easier for oxide ions to move around using empty "interstitial" sites in the lattice.
This added flexibility allows ions to move faster and more freely in the new material. At 932°F, the conductivity of Ba7Nb4MoO20 more than doubled (from 2.5 × 10−4 to 5.3 × 10−4 S/cm).
The high temperatures at which SOFCs typically operate are a significant drawback. They cause materials to degrade quickly and make the systems expensive. By operating at lower temperatures, such as between 752°F to 1,112°F, the new material could help address these issues.
The discovery is expected to greatly advance the development of ion conductors, which are essential for clean energy technologies such as fuel cells and steam electrolysis cells. Understanding Oxygen and Hydrogen conduction in ceramic oxide-ion, proton, and dual-ion conductors is vital for clean energy, according to Professor Yashima.
Most fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, with water vapor as a "waste" product. The more efficient and durable fuel cells could lead to cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.
Researchers are looking for new ceramic electrolytes that work effectively at lower temperatures while still conducting ions efficiently. The discovery by the team from Dresden and Tokyo could be a significant step towards achieving this goal.
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