The engineering breakthrough opens the door to a cheap hydrogen power

As an alternative to the combustion of fossil fuels, hydrogen fuel cells hold huge promises. But they are also notoriously difficult and expensive to manage, which largely explains why we do not see them everywhere (or anywhere, moreover, with the exception of some initiatives which are “exploration“Their effectiveness). But that could soon change.

In a Nature materials Document published on August 8, the researchers announced the development of a new type of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) which addresses an underlying problem for these devices: temperature. Hydrogen fuel cells, a type of SOFC, directly convert gas hydrogen into energy and water. This process, although very effective and durable, requires ridiculously high operating temperatures ranging from 1,292 to 1,472 degrees fahrenheit (700 to 800 degrees Celsius).

The new cell, however, works at only 572 degrees F (300 degrees C), less than half of what was previously necessary. “Catching up with the working temperature to 300 ° C would reduce the costs of materials and open the door to consumer systems,” said Yoshihiro Yamazaki, higher study author and materials at Kyushu University in Japan, in a statement.

More specifically, the team has focused on the reengineering of electrolyte, a layer of ceramic made up of different atomic structures arranged in a crystalline network. In hydrogen fuel cells, the hydrogen ions positively loaded, or protons, travel these crystalline ways to convert gas hydrogen into energy and water. Normally, the fuel cell must operate at extremely high temperatures to work, which researchers have tried to go around chemical dopants—USblies added to manipulate the physical properties of a material – in combination with an appropriate oxide crystal.

“But it also comes with a challenge,” said Yamazaki. “The addition of chemical dopants can increase the number of mobile protons passing through an electrolyte, but it generally obstructs the crystal network, slowing down protons.”

After testing various candidates, the team locked up on two compounds, Barium Stannate and Barium titanate. When doped with a scandium at a temperature of 572 degrees F, the two materials had levels of efficiency equally with existing SOFCs at much higher temperatures.

Surprisingly, scandium atoms hung on oxygen atoms to form a “wide and slowly vibrant (molecular) road” which allowed the protons to travel with an “unusually low migration barrier”, explained Yamazaki. The two compounds used for this electrolyte are also softer than what is conventionally used to build such cells, he added, which was probably the reason why the compounds easily absorb the scandium dopant.

“Our work transforms a long -standing scientific paradox into a practical solution, bringing together the affordable hydrogen power of daily life,” said Yamazaki.

Compared to space temperatures, 572 degrees F is still very high. However, this reduction is always important and depicts a promising future to further reduce operating temperatures – and also operating costs – for the practical and practical implementation of SOFCs.