Description:
Reference #: 00897
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for this technology.
Invention Description:
Yttrium-doped barium zirconate (BZY) is now considered as an alternative to the oxygen-ion conductor electrolytes conventionally used in IT-SOFCs due to its higher bulk proton conductivity at low temperatures.
BZY has not been fully exploited until now despite its excellent chemical stability because, when prepared as a ceramic polycrystalline material, it suffers from difficult sintering and proton conductivity is decreased by grain boundaries, which have a blocking effect.
However, the subject invention involves a successful development of a dense Yttrium-doped barium zirconate [BZY] that was fabricated at 600oC with a carbonate phase as the sintering aid and evidence of a proton conducting mechanism. The two-phase composite is a mixed proton and carbonate-ion conductor (MPCC).
The presence of carbonate phase simultaneously promotes densification and enhances the proton conduction of the refractory BZY. The ionic conductivities of the carbonate-added BZY are two to three orders of magnitude higher than that of original single BZY. Part of this invention is a novel anode that prevents the loss of carbonate phase in developed mixed proton and carbonate ion conductor based solid oxide fuel cells.
Potential Applications:
Finds application in IT-SOFC
Advantages and Benefits:
- Relatively low cost of anode materials
- Simple anode fabrication procedure
- Drastically minimizes/eliminates significant deposition of carbon synonymous with ordinary nickel anode