What is it about?
We report a new energy conversion technology joining electrochemical and physical principles. This technology can realize the fuel cell function but built on a different scientific principle. The device consists of a single component which is a homogenous mixture of ceria composite with semiconducting materials, e.g. LiNiCuZn-based oxides. The test devices with hydrogen and air operation delivered a power density of 760 mW cm−2 at 550 °C. The device has demonstrated a multi-fuel flexibility and direct alcohol and biogas operations have delivered 300–500 mW cm−2 at the same temperature. Device physics reveal a key principle similar to solar cells realizing the function based on an effective separation of electronic and ionic conductions and phases within the single-component. The component material multi-functionalities: ion and semi-conductions and bi-catalysis to H2 or alcohol (methanol and ethanol) and air (O2) enable this device realized as a fuel cell.
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Why is it important?
We combined here ionic and semiconducting materials for fuel cell
Perspectives
The idea of a single material mixture for a fuel cell could be a step further, a 3-in-1 approach, which could enable a cheap manufacturing process for fuel cells.
Professor Peter D. Lund
Aalto University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A new energy conversion technology joining electrochemical and physical principles, RSC Advances, January 2012, Royal Society of Chemistry,
DOI: 10.1039/c2ra01234k.
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