Ceramic fuel cells: the time of structural optimization

Abstract

In the paper, that is devoted to Oganes Davtyan 100-year anniversary as prominent scientist — researcher of direct transformation of fuel chemical energy into electrical one, the inventor of fuel cells, the creator of the theory of fundamental field, the outline of achievements by developers of zirconia powders to be suitable for fuel cells, and application of electron beams to deposition of electrolyte layers for ceramic fuel cells is given. The importance of consideration of influence of powder properties and methods of their consolidation on properties of fuel cell electrolyte and its electrodes is accentuated. Zirconia powders, cubic structure of which is stabilized with 10% (mol.) scandia and 1% (mol.) ceria, developed in Ukraine ensure the highest level of oxygen ion conductivity among compared, and electron-beam technology applied to deposit electrolyte films ensures both enhanced conductivity and density to be enough for right operation of fuel cells at 600 °С. Full text download