Friday, October 12, 2012: 12:00 AM
Hall 4E/F (WSCC)
Abstract
On the most critical challenges facing the world is the development of clean, reliable, and efficient energy conversion processes. The demand for energy will inevitably increase and this increasing demand must not compromise the environment. Fuel cells are energy conversion systems that efficiently generate electricity for stationary or transportation application from fuels like hydrogen or hydrocarbons. There are various types of fuel cells. Among them, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are vey promising because they offer flexibility in terms of the type of fuel. The challenges hindering SOFC commercialization arise from their high operating temperature. Developing an SOFC able to operate in the so-called intermediate temperature range (IT, 450-650 oC) are needed. Reducing the SOFC operating temperature leads to two main problems: a decrease in electrolyte conductivity and an increase in electrode polarization losses, because both the ion transport in ceramic electrolyte and the electrochemical reaction at the triple phase boundary (TPB) are thermally activated processes. Nanomaterials play a key role in the SOFCs, large surface area (nanopores) are needed for oxygen transport within the air electrode, as well as hydrogen and water transport within the fuel electrode. In this research (Ba0.5Sr0.5)1-xNdxCo0.8Fe0.2O3- (BSNCFO) (0.00 x 0.20) compound were synthesized by the chemicals solution, solid state reaction method, and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), the samples were submitted at a cavitation process and after that structurally studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicated that we have developed a top-down method for fabrication of nanoparticles for IT-SOFC.
On the most critical challenges facing the world is the development of clean, reliable, and efficient energy conversion processes. The demand for energy will inevitably increase and this increasing demand must not compromise the environment. Fuel cells are energy conversion systems that efficiently generate electricity for stationary or transportation application from fuels like hydrogen or hydrocarbons. There are various types of fuel cells. Among them, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are vey promising because they offer flexibility in terms of the type of fuel. The challenges hindering SOFC commercialization arise from their high operating temperature. Developing an SOFC able to operate in the so-called intermediate temperature range (IT, 450-650 oC) are needed. Reducing the SOFC operating temperature leads to two main problems: a decrease in electrolyte conductivity and an increase in electrode polarization losses, because both the ion transport in ceramic electrolyte and the electrochemical reaction at the triple phase boundary (TPB) are thermally activated processes. Nanomaterials play a key role in the SOFCs, large surface area (nanopores) are needed for oxygen transport within the air electrode, as well as hydrogen and water transport within the fuel electrode. In this research (Ba0.5Sr0.5)1-xNdxCo0.8Fe0.2O3- (BSNCFO) (0.00 x 0.20) compound were synthesized by the chemicals solution, solid state reaction method, and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), the samples were submitted at a cavitation process and after that structurally studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicated that we have developed a top-down method for fabrication of nanoparticles for IT-SOFC.