New material could help SOFCs operate more efficiently and cheaply.
Image: Bloom Energy
Solid oxide fuel cells may be producing cleaner energy at a more efficient level soon, thanks to a development at the University of Cambridge.
A new thin-film electrolyte material, developed by a team including ECS member Sergei Kalinin, has the potential to propel portable power sources due to its ability to achieve high performance levels and very low temperatures.
Advancing fuel cells
With a huge scientific focus shift toward developing new energy technologies, fuel cells have emerged as a big contender. Transitioning from a simple laboratory curiosity in the 19th century to a main contender for powering electric vehicles, researchers have dedicated much energy to building an efficient, cost effective fuel cell.
(MORE: Read “Battery and Fuel Cell Technology“)
This from University of Cambridge:
By using thin-film electrolyte layers, micro solid oxide fuel cells offer a concentrated energy source, with potential applications in portable power sources for electronic consumer or medical devices, or those that need uninterruptable power supplies such as those used by the military or in recreational vehicles.
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“With low power requirements and low levels of polluting emissions, these fuel cells offer an environmentally attractive solution for many power source applications,” says Charlanne Ward of Cambridge Enterprise. “This opportunity has the potential to revolutionize the power supply problem of portable electronics, by improving both the energy available from the power source and safety, compared with today’s battery solutions.”
