|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
|
|
RESEARCHAugust 11, 2008Materials dramatically drop fuel cell temps Force
a pair of dissimilar materials together and you can lower the operating
temperature of solid oxide fuel cells to near room temperature, potentially
lowering the cost of utility-scale fuel cells that can run on renewable
fuels.Layering yttria-stabilized zirconia and strontium titanate changes the crystal structures of the two materials where they meet, which opens channels for oxygen ions to flow through at near room temperature. Oxygen ions flow through a solid electrolyte between two electrodes in the chemical process solid oxide fuel cells use to generate electricity from liquid fuels. Today's solid oxide fuel cells operate at 600 to 800 degrees Celsius, which limits the materials and fuels the power generators can use, and requires long startup times. The new electrolyte could make fuel cells economically competitive for powering cities, campuses and buildings. Research paper: Colossal Ionic Conductivity at Interfaces of Epitaxial ZrO2:Y2O3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures Science, August 1, 2008 Researchers' homepages: Complex Materials Physics Group, University of Alcala of Madrid Electron Microscopy Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Related stories and briefs: Ceramic promises cooler fuel cells -- a material that lowers fuel cell operating temperatures to 600 degrees Celsius Cooler material boosts fuel cells -- a material that lowers fuel cell operating temperatures to 500 to 700 degrees Celsius. Back to ERN August 11/18, 2008 |
ShareFeedsNews | Blog
E-mail headlines Energy-related books and products from Amazon.com |
© Copyright Technology Research News
2008-2010. All rights reserved.
