Fuel Cell Materials, Methods and Manufacture

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are the most efficient known energy conversion device for producing electricity from a variety of fuels, including renewable biomass, hydrogen, or natural gas, with no pollution-forming emissions. However, their use remains severely limited by high costs, as well as by low durability and reliability. Current projects are aimed at lowering the cost and improving the durability of fuel cells through the use of new materials and processing techniques to produce fuel cells more rapidly using a process that is easily scaleable for mass production. Work is also focused on understanding the electrochemical performance and degradation behaviour of SOFCs, in order to develop strategies to increase their durability.