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LSGM
Based Composite Cathodes for Anode Supported, Intermediate Temperature
(600-800ºC) Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC)--Materials
and Systems Research, Inc., 5395 West 700 South, Salt Lake City, UT
84104; 801-530-4987
Dr.
Tad J Armstrong, Principal Investigator, tarmstro@MSRIhome.com
Dr.
Dinesh K. Shetty, Business Official, dsgetty@MRSIhome.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG03-02ER83489
Amount:
$99,953
Lowering the
operating temperature of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) to 600ºC would have
important benefits including higher efficiency; the use of lower-cost metallic
materials, for instance, the use of stainless steel as opposed to expensive
superalloys for interconnects; and lower
operating and engineering costs, since lower temperatures require less thermal
insulation and heat management. This
project will develop porous-anode supported SOFCs using Sr and Mg doped LaGoO3
(LSGM) based composite cathodes. Operation at lower temperatures would be
possible because the anode supported SOFCs allow for thin film electrolytes (~ 5
microns); LSGM has high oxide ionic
conductivity (higher than zirconia); and composite cathodes reduce the
overpotential at the cathode. In
Phase I, electrocatalysts will be selected and synthesized for use in composite
cathodes consisting of LSGM and the electrocatalyst.
Single cell porous-anode supported SOFCs with thin film YSZ electrolytes
and composite cathodes will be constructed and electrochemically tested at low
temperatures. Fabrication and testing of a four-cell planar internally
manifolded SOFC stack will be conducted with cells containing LSGM based
composite cathodes.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits
as described by the awardee: Solid
oxide fuel cells (SOFC) capable of operating at intermediate temperatures (600ºC)
should have numerous applications in distributed, residential, automotive, and
portable power as a device that can operate on hydrocarbon fuels at high
efficiency with negligible pollution.
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