Improved Cathode Material for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Project Leader: Rasit Koc
Unit: College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes
Brief Description:
An improved ceramic composition for use as a low-temperature cathode material in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and oxygen separation systems. The new doped Lanthanum Ferrite material exhibits excellent properties of oxygen permeability, electrical conductivity, thermal expansion, chemical stability at high temperatures, material tightness, and ease of manufacture as compared to present materials. These properties provide benefits of improved current production, increased material durability, and reduced-cost fabrication. Several beneficial characteristics of current cathode materials are incorporated into the composition:
- Lanthanum Cobalt - high conductivity and ease of sintering
- Lanthanum Chromium - chemical stability against oxidation and reduction
- Lanthanum Ferrite - high conductivity
The ease of manufacture is enhanced by the ability to sinter with ambient atmospheric pressures and contents, without the need for inert environments. The composition is also chemically and thermally compatible with other SOFC materials, making it an excellent candidate for improvements in low-temperature SOFC and oxygen separation applications.
Patent Status:
Patent pending.
Potential Commercial Uses:
Hydrogen fuel cells offer promise for efficient energy utilization in a variety of applications. This new material offers advantages over current materials in low temperature (<800°C) solid oxide fuel cell cathodes and electrical interconnect applications, helping to improve the viability of the SOFC. It also has applications in oxygen separation systems, and in applications where current materials have shortcomings in electrical current conductivity, thermal expansion, and degradation of anode/cathode materials at high temperatures.
Contact:
Jeff Myers, Senior Technology Transfer Specialist, (618) 453-4543, fax: (618) 453-8038