90
CCVD-Produced,
Oxygen-Deficient, Nanocrystalline Perovskite for Low-Temperature Proton
Exchange Membranes--MicroCoating
Technologies, 5315 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Atlanta, GA
30341; 678-287-2445, www.microcoating.com
Dr.
Radenka Maric, Principal Investigator, rmaric@microcoating.com
Mr.
John G. Edwards, Business Official, jedwards@microcoating.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER83717
Amount:
$100,000
Fuel
cell technology has enormous promise for efficient and environmentally friendly
mobile and stationary power applications. To
enable widespread commercialization, higher-performing materials will be needed.
This project will use catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD)
technology to make nanocrystalline, oxygen-deficient, perovskite materials for
the dense mixed oxide proton conductors, used in low- and
intermediate-temperature fuel cells. With
an optimized composition, a target conductivity of 10-3 S/cm should
be achievable, which would be high enough for use in thin-film (5-10mm)
electrolyte fuel cells at 150oC.
Phase I will focus on thermal and electrical properties of
oxygen-deficient nanocrystalline perovskites, particularly in thin-film and
sintered-pellet forms, the latter of which can be generated from nanopowders
that exhibit very high surface area, high conductivity, low sintering
temperatures, and residual nanocrystallinity.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:
This technology
should accelerate the development of fuel cells for the portable power,
automotive, and power-generation markets within the next few years.
Sales of fuel cells are anticipated to reach $1.3 billion by the year
2003, up from $355 million in 1998, which corresponds to a 30% annually
compounded growth rate.