Reference #: 00820
The
Potential Applications:
The cell with this unique structure has potential application in the field of ‘self-regenerative’ solid oxide fuel cells to overcome electrode deactivation issues. Redox stable and mixed conducting SFM perovskite materials can also find applications in oxygen permeation membranes.
Advantages and Benefits:
Dr. Chen’s invention demonstrates a novel self-regenerating electrode concept for SOFCs: both the anode and the cathode are the same material, and the fuel cell can be operated by alternating the flow of the fuel and the oxidant.
Invention Description:
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) convert chemical energy from the fuel directly to electricity, offer high system efficiency and are environmentally benign. In a SOFC, a gas tight ionic conducting electrolyte is sandwiched between two porous electrodes (anode and cathode). Electrodes are the critical components for an SOFC where the electrochemical reactions take place: fuel is oxidized in the anode while oxygen is reduced in the cathode. However, the development and widespread adoption of SOFC technology are hampered since the anode and cathode catalysts are deactivated during operation due to sulfur and carbon species binding to the surface of the anode catalyst and chromia deposits accruing on the surface of the cathode catalyst.
Perovskite