All these give PCFCs major benefits in fuel utilisation, overall efficiency, and system simplicity with reformed fossil fuels as well as hydrogen from renewables.
However, the proton conductivities of candidate materials are insufficient, and the project aims to improve proton conductivity through doping strategies and interface engineering, investigating new classes of stable proton conducting oxides, and developing technologies for thin film electrolytes on suitable substrates. Novel cathodes will be devised, all to bring area-specific electrolyte and interface resistances down to 0.2cm2 each within this first project. New production routes of precursors and materials are included, as well as surface kinetics research and cost reduction by mischmetal strategies. The project is accompanied by complementary national initiatives and projects e.g. on fundamental characterisation and interconnects. Novel PCFC technology involves high risk and long term research that needs concerted action from many actors including the emerging nano-ionics field.
It is the aim that PCFCs by 2020 will be available, accelerate the use of fuel cells, reduce CO2 emissions, and increase efficiency by 10% where applied, promote the hydrogen society, and be a dominating fuel cell technology. The project counts 7 partners in 5 countries, with leadership and PCFC dedication.
Funded under 7th FWP (Seventh Framework Programme)
Hosting organisation: UNIVERSITETET I OSLO