Home > Press > Activating lattice oxygen in perovskite oxide to optimize fuel cell performance
A figure that explains the modulation of the stability and activity of the SOFC anode confirmed by the researchers in this study. As the level of cobalt increases, the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) activity in the anode increases but at the same time, the lattice oxygen bonding increases which heightens the risk of deterioration of the material stability. CREDIT POSTECH |
Abstract:
To optimize the performance of fuel cells, a golden ratio must be found. Recently, a Korean research team has uncovered that the performance of fuel cells varies depending on the Co-doping level. Finding the optimal ratio is anticipated to help maximize the performance of fuel cells in the future.
A research team led by Professor Jeong Woo Han and Ph.D. candidate Chaesung Lim (Department of Chemical Engineering) of POSTECH, in joint research with Professor Yan Chen and Dr. Huijun Chen of South China University of Technology, has confirmed that as the Co-doping level in the perovskite oxide thin film increases, the lattice oxygen is increasingly activated in the film.
Since electrical energy is generated as lattice oxygen – which makes up the thin film – is activated, controlling this can improve the performance of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), which uses the thin film as an anode.
The SOFC consists of an oxygen ion electrolyte and cathode-anode on both sides. On the cathode side, oxygen ions are formed via oxygen reduction. These ions move to the anode via electrolytes and generate water and electricity by reacting with the hydrogen supplied at the anode.
The research team added cobalt of different levels to the perovskite oxide film model using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. As Co-doping level increased, the lattice oxygen activity in the film also increased and improved the performance of the SOFC anode. However, when the Co-doping level exceeded 70%, the stability of the anode rapidly degraded, lowering its performance.
SOFC, which converts chemical energy into electrical energy without emitting harmful gases, can replace fossil fuels that emit pollutants as a by-product. This makes SOFC the optimal alternative for overcoming the climate crisis as it can be used as a source of energy for powerplants that emit lots of carbon.
However, there are many factors that affect the lattice oxygen activity of the SOFC anode, making it difficult to fine-tune it. In this study, Professor Han’s research team has discovered a way to ultimately improve the performance of fuel cells by allowing the lattice oxygen activity to be modulated with the Co-doping level.
“The effect of cobalt-doping level on the performance of SOFC anodes was affirmed with both theory and experiments in this study,” explained Professor Jeong Woo Han. “This signifies that the strategy to develop the best-performing SOFC has been confirmed.”
This joint study was conducted with the support from the Nano Materials Technology Development Program funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea. The findings from were recently published in Advanced Science, an academic journal of the highest authority in the field of materials science.
####
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Jinyoung Huh
Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)
Office: 82-54-279-2415
Copyright © Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)
If you have a comment, please Contact us.Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Related Links |
Related News Press |
News and information
Simulating magnetization in a Heisenberg quantum spin chain April 5th, 2024
NRL charters Navy’s quantum inertial navigation path to reduce drift April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Good as gold - improving infectious disease testing with gold nanoparticles April 5th, 2024
Perovskites
Chemical reactions can scramble quantum information as well as black holes April 5th, 2024
Shedding light on unique conduction mechanisms in a new type of perovskite oxide November 17th, 2023
Inverted perovskite solar cell breaks 25% efficiency record: Researchers improve cell efficiency using a combination of molecules to address different November 17th, 2023
Possible Futures
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
With VECSELs towards the quantum internet Fraunhofer: IAF achieves record output power with VECSEL for quantum frequency converters April 5th, 2024
Discoveries
Chemical reactions can scramble quantum information as well as black holes April 5th, 2024
New micromaterial releases nanoparticles that selectively destroy cancer cells April 5th, 2024
Utilizing palladium for addressing contact issues of buried oxide thin film transistors April 5th, 2024
Announcements
NRL charters Navy’s quantum inertial navigation path to reduce drift April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals/White papers/Posters
Simulating magnetization in a Heisenberg quantum spin chain April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Energy
Development of zinc oxide nanopagoda array photoelectrode: photoelectrochemical water-splitting hydrogen production January 12th, 2024
Shedding light on unique conduction mechanisms in a new type of perovskite oxide November 17th, 2023
Inverted perovskite solar cell breaks 25% efficiency record: Researchers improve cell efficiency using a combination of molecules to address different November 17th, 2023
The efficient perovskite cells with a structured anti-reflective layer – another step towards commercialization on a wider scale October 6th, 2023
Fuel Cells
Current and Future Developments in Nanomaterials and Carbon Nanotubes: Applications of Nanomaterials in Energy Storage and Electronics October 28th, 2022
The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
Premium Products | ||
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||