Sulfonated polybenzimidazole/amine functionalized titanium dioxide(s PBI/AFT) composite electrolyte membranes for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells usage

The novel sulfonated polybenzimidazole(sPBI)/amine functionalized titanium dioxide(AFT) composite membrane is devised and studied for its capability of the application of high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells(HT-PEMFCs),unlike the prior low temperature AFT endeavors.The high temperature compatibility was actualized because of the filling of free volumes in the rigid aromatic matrix of the composite with AFT nanoparticles which inhibited segmental motions of the chains and improved its thermal stability.Besides,amine functionalization of TiO2 enhanced their dispersion character in the sPBI matrix and shortened the interparticle separation gap which finally improved the proton transfer after establishing interconnected pathways and breeding more phosphoric acid(PA) doping.In addition,the appeared assembled clusters of AFT flourished a superior mechanical stability.Thus,the optimized sPBI/AFT(10 wt%) showed 65.3 MPa tensile strength;0.084 S·cm^-1 proton conductivity(at 160℃;in anhydrous conditions),28.6% water uptake and PA doping level of 23 mol per sPBI repeat unit.The maximum power density peak for sPBI/AFT-10 met the figure of0.42 W·cm^-2 at 160℃(in dry conditions) under atmospheric pressure with 1.5 and 2.5 stoichiometric flow rates of H2/air.These results affirmed the probable fitting of sPBI/AFT composite for HT-PEMFC applications.

Preparation and Characterization of Component Materials for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell by Glycine-Nitrate Process

La1-xSrxGa1-y MgyO3-δ(LSGM) electrolyte, La1-xSrxCr1-y MnyO3-δ( LSCM ) anode and La1-xSrxFe1-y MnyO3-aaaaaaa(LSFM) cathode materials were all synthesized by glycine-nitrate process (GNP). The microstructure and characteristics of LSGM, LSCM and LSFM were tested via X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microcopy (SEM), A C impedance and four-probe direct current techniques. XRD shows that pure perovskite phase LSGM electrolyte and electrode (LSCM anode and LSFM cathode) materials were prepared after being sintered at 1400℃for 20 h and at 1000℃for 5 h, respectively. The max conductivities of LSGM (ionic conductivity), LSCM (total conductivity) and LSFM (total conductivity) materials are 0.02, 10, 16 S·cm-1 in the air below 850℃, respectively. The conductivity of LSCM becomes smaller when the atmosphere changes from air to pure hydrogen at the same temperature and it decreases with the temperature like metal. The porous and LSGM-based LSCM anode and LSFM cathode films were prepared by screen printing method, and the sintering temperatures for them were 1300 and 1250℃, respectively. LSGM and electrode (LSCM and LSFM) materials have good thermal and chemical compatibility.

Status and prospects of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Compared with conventional electric power generation systems, the solid oxide fuel cell （SOFC） has many advantages because of its unique features. High temperature SOFC has been successfully developed to its commercial applications, but it still faces many problems which hamper large-scale commercial applications of SOFC. To reduce the cost of SOFC, intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell （IT-SOFC） is presently under rapid development. The status of IT-SOFC was reviewed with emphasis on discussion of their component materials. 2008 University of Science and Technology Beijing. All rights reserved.

Development of nickel based cermet anode materials in solid oxide fuel cells–Now and future

High temperature solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC)is the most efficient and clean energy conversion technology to electrochemically convert the chemical energy of fuels such as hydrogen,natural gas and hydrocarbons to electricity,and also the most viable alternative to the traditional thermal power plants.However,the power output of a SOFC critically depends on the characteristics and performance of its key components:anode,electrolyte and cathode.Due to the highly reducing environment and strict requirements in electrical conductivity and catalytic activity,there are limited choices in the anode materials of SOFCs,particularly for operation in the intermediate temperature range of 500–800C.Among them,Ni-based cermets are the most common and popular anode materials of SOFCs.The objective of this paper is to review the development of Ni-based anode materials in SOFC from the viewpoints of materials microstructure,performance and industrial scalability associated with the fabrication and optimization processes.The latest advancement in nano-structure architecture,contaminant tolerance and interface optimization of Ni-based cermet anodes is presented.And at the end of this paper,we propose and appeal for the collaborative work of scientists from different disciplines that enable the inter-fusion research of fabrication,microanalysis and modelling,aiming at the challenges in the development of Ni-based cermet anodes for commercially viable intermediate temperature SOFC or IT-SOFC technologies.

Phosphorus induced activity-enhancement of Fe-N-C catalysts for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Fe-N-C materials with atomically dispersed Fe–N_(4) sites could tolerate the poisoning of phosphate,is regarded as the most promising alternative to costly Pt-based catalysts for the oxygen reduction in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(HT-PEMFCs).However,they still face the critical issue of insufficient activity in phosphoric acid.Herein,we demonstrate a P-doping strategy to increase the activity of Fe-N-C catalyst via a feasible one-pot method.X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron microscopy with atomic resolution indicated that the P atom is bonded with the N in Fe–N_(4) site through C atoms.The as prepared Fe-NCP catalyst shows a half-wave potential of 0.75 V(vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE),0.1 M H_(3)PO_(4)),which is 60 and 40 mV higher than that of Fe-NC and commercial Pt/C catalysts,respectively.More importantly,the Fe-NCP catalyst could deliver a peak power density of 357 mW·cm^(−2)in a high temperature fuel cell(160℃),exceeding the non-noble-metal catalysts ever reported.The enhancement of activity is attributed to the increasing charge density and poisoning tolerance of Fe–N_(4) caused by neighboring P.This work not only promotes the practical application of Fe-N-C materials in HT-PEMFCs,but also provides a feasible P-doping method for regulating the structure of single atom site.

Modeling of Packed Bed Methanol Steam Reformer Integrated with Tubular High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

This work proposes a novel tubular structure of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC)integrated with a built-in packed-bed methanol steam reformer to provide hydrogen for power output.A two-dimensional axisymmetric non-isothermal model was developed in COMSOL Multiphysics 5.4 to simulate the performance of a tubular high temperature proton membrane fuel cell and a packed bed methanol reformer.The model considers the coupling multi-physical processes,including methanol reforming reaction,water gas shift reaction,methanol cracking reaction as well as the heat,mass and momentum transport processes.The sub-model of the tubular packed-bed methanol reformer is validated between 433 K and 493 K with the experimental data reported in the literature.The sub-model of the high temperature proton exchange fuel cell is validated between 393 K and 433 K with the published literature.Our results show that power output and temperature distribution of the integrated unit depend on methanol flow rates and working voltages.It was suggested that stable power generation performance of 0.14 W/cm_(2)and temperature drop in methanol steam reformer of≤10 K could be achieved by controlling the methanol space-time ratio of≥250 kg·s/mol with working voltage at 0.6 V,even in the absence of an external heat source.

Preparation and Characterization of Cathode Materials La_(0.7)Sr_(0.3-x)Ca_xCo_(0.9)Fe_(0.1)O_(3-δ) by Reverse Titration Co-Precipitation Method for ITSOFC

The precursors of La0.7Sr0.3-xCaxCo0.9Fe0.1O3-δ(LSCCF, x=0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) as the cathode materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (ITSOFC) were prepared by reverse titration co-precipitation method with metal-nitrates as starting materials and mixed alkali (NaOH and Na2CO3) as a precipitating agent. The formation process of LSCCF from the precursors was monitored by TG-DSC, and the crystal structure and particles morphology of the precursors which were calcined at 600, 800, 1000 ℃ for 3 h were characterized using XRD, SEM technologies. Compared with the solid state reaction of constituent oxides, when the pH value of the precipitating solution was in the range of 9.1～9.5, the LSCCF powders from the precursors caclined at 800 ℃ for 3 h had high purity, homogeneous and single perovskite phase. The electrical conductivity of the LSCCF samples sintered at 1200 ℃ for 3 h, which was measured as a function of temperatures from 100 to 800 ℃ by DC four-probe method in air, decreased with x from 0.05 to 0.20. The value of electrical conductivity was almost equal because of Ca2+, Sr2+ co-dopant resulting in the 'mix effect' while x=0.10 or 0.15. The electrical conductivity of all doped samples was higher than 100 S·cm-1 at intermediate temperatures from 500 to 800 ℃, and there was good compatibility between the LSCCF cathode and Ce0.8Sm0.2O2 electrolyte.

Synthesis and characterization of Y and Dy co-doped ceria solid electrolytes for IT-SOFCs:a microwave sintering

In this communication,the electrical conductivities and thermal expansion studies of microwave sintered co-doped ceria Ce_(0.8)Y_(0.2-x)Dy_(x)O_(2-δ)(x=0,0.05,0.10,0.15 and 0.20) solid electrolyte materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells(IT-SOFCs)synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion method were discussed.Microwave sintering at 1300℃ for 30 min was used for making dense powder compacts.The relative densities of all the samples are noticed above 95%.Raman spectrum was characterized by the presence of a very strong band near 460 cm^(-1),which along with X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis ascertain the sample formation with a single-phase cubic fluorite structure.The lattice parameter values were calculated from XRD patterns.SEM images show nearly uniform grains with distinct grain boundaries.The thermal expansion coefficients(TECs) are found to vary linearly with temperature and were measured in the range from 14.15 to 13.20×10^(-6)℃^(-1).The investigation on total ionic conductivity(TIC) was executed with variation in dopant concentration and relative oxygen vacancies.The impedance analysis reveals that the sample Ce_(0.80)Y_(0.10)Dy_(0.10)O_(2-δ) displays the highest TIC,i.e.,7.5×10^(-3) S·cm^(-1) at 500℃ and minimum activation energy 0.90 eV compared to others.With the highest TIC and minimum activation energy,the Ce_(0.80)Y_(0.10)Dy_(0.10)O_(2-δ)might be the possible material as the solid electrolyte in intermediate temperature SOFCs.