CURRENT STATUS
In commercial SOFCs and SOECs, fuel electrodes are manufactured using nickel-yttria stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ cermet). This material is often rapidly degraded due to carbon deposition, sulphur poisoning and reoxidation.
AS A RESULT, NEXT-GENERATION CELLS WILL BE DESIGNED TO BE MORE TOLERANT OF REDOX AND THERMAL CYCLES, AS WELL AS CONTAMINATION.
OUR PURPOSES
The scopes of this project involve the use of fuel cells to generate power (SOFC) and electricity to generate hydrogen (SOEC), both using biofuels. Through this joint lab, knowledge will be created concerning advanced intermediate temperature reversible cells, materials appropriately selected and optimized for specific purposes, with a reduced content of critical materials and compatibility for industrial scale-up. The technology proposed in this way represents a high degree of innovation, not only for the reversible applications of the cell, but also for specifications in electrolysis or fuel cell operation.
DEVELOPED COMPONENTS
In order to accomplish this, several components need to be developed:
new electrodes and
electrolytes
an appropriate
cell design
interconnectors and
interface materials
with high mechanical
and electrical resistance and
durability
screening and
validation of electrical,
mechanical and
electrochemical
properties at the
button cell level
validation on
a small scale (e.g.
100 W stack)
as a proofof-concept
This advanced technology can be integrated into the energy system to address the growing number of variable renewable energy sources. This represents the final objective of this project.
Chemistry laboratories devoted to synthesising materials and include glove boxes, chemical fume hoods, surveillance of exhausts, reactors for the synthesis of materials, water distiller, treatment of exhaust liquids, etc;
Systems for the deposition of thin films and thermal pretreatment;
5 chamber furnaces for thermal treatments at high temperatures (up to 1800 °C) and internal volume ranging between 5-23 lt + 8 tube furnaces for thermal treatments and electrochemical experiments;
Screen printing set-up and triple roll miller;
Temperature programmed Analyser;
15 Electrochemical equipment including EIS modules for electrochemical tests ranging from nA to 100A and from mV to 80V;
4 test benches for button cells, 2 for large area cell (up to 10 cm X 10 cm), 1 for stack up to 500 W and 1 for stack up to 2 kW, equipped with digital mass flows for gases and liquids;
High-pressure isostatic press ISOLAB FPG 7680; X-ray diffractometer;
Scanning Electron Microscope;
Transmission electron microscopy;
Ion Implantation.
