Solar Energy News
ENERGY TECH
Direct Observation of Space Charge Layers Inside Fuel Cell Electrolytes
illustration only
Direct Observation of Space Charge Layers Inside Fuel Cell Electrolytes
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Nov 04, 2024

A team of researchers from The University of Tokyo has successfully observed the space charge layers inside the solid electrolyte of a fuel cell, providing important insights into their existence and impact.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) have gained attention for their potential to provide clean energy, due to their high efficiency and low carbon emissions. These fuel cells use yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia (YSZ) and other oxygen ion conductors as solid electrolytes. A long-standing challenge has been the significant drop in ionic conductivity at the interfaces between numerous crystal grains, known as grain boundaries, within the material.

This drop in conductivity has been thought to be due to space charge layers forming in the nanometer-scale region near the grain boundaries. However, directly observing these layers has proven extremely difficult, leaving fundamental questions about their existence unresolved.

In this study, researchers including Assistant Professor Satoko Toyama, Lecturer Takehito Seki, Project Associate Professor Bin Feng, Specially Appointed Research Professor Yuichi Ikuhara, and Director and Professor Naoya Shibata, utilized advanced electron microscopy techniques to directly demonstrate the presence of space charge layers at the grain boundaries of YSZ.

Their work included examining local electric fields at multiple grain boundaries with different crystal orientations, ultimately identifying some boundaries where space charge layers were absent.

By also conducting atomic structure observations, they found that the presence of space charge layers is strongly linked to the orientation and atomic structure of the grain boundaries. These findings suggest that controlling the structure of grain boundaries could help to eliminate space charge layers and reduce resistance to ion conduction.

The research marks a significant step toward understanding the factors that contribute to ion conduction resistance in battery materials, potentially paving the way for new methods to improve their performance.

The development was part of the "SHIBATA Ultra-atomic Resolution Electron Microscopy" project, supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) under the Strategic Basic Research Program ERATO. This project aims to create a new "ultra" atomic resolution electron microscopy technique, surpassing conventional atomic resolution to allow simultaneous observation of atomic structures and electromagnetic field distributions over a wide temperature range. Such advances are expected to enable a direct examination of the origins of materials and biological functions.

Research Report:Direct observation of space-charge-induced electric fields at oxide grain boundaries

Related Links
Institute of Engineering Innovation, School of Engineering | University of Tokyo
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
ENERGY TECH
Exploring the cost and feasibility of battery-electric ships
Berkeley CA (SPX) Oct 31, 2024
Retrofitting a portion of the US shipping fleet from internal combustion engines to battery-electric systems could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be largely cost effective by 2035, according to a new study from Berkeley Lab researchers recently published in Nature Energy. Shipping represents 3% of total US greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, making it an important target for decarbonization. But electrifying ships is more challenging than electrifying cars from both a ... read more

ENERGY TECH
Cobalt copper tandem catalysts transform CO2 into renewable ethanol

Advanced biodegradable plastics achieve unprecedented toughness and sustainability

Vast and GGS Energy launch Project Bravo to power US green fuel production

Baylor engineers introduce ultra-clean biofuel combustion technology

ENERGY TECH
Paradigm Shift in Science: From Big Data to Autonomous Robot Scientists

AI robot 'art' might fetch $180K through Sotheby's auction

Siemens acquires AI specialist Altair Engineering

Internet firms must face consequences, says author

ENERGY TECH
Sweden's defence concerned by planned offshore wind power

On US coast, wind power foes embrace 'Save the Whales' argument

Renewables revolt in Sardinia, Italy's coal-fired island

Government action needed for world to meet renewables goal: IEA

ENERGY TECH
Paris to restrict traffic in centre: city hall

Volkswagen profit plunges on high costs, Chinese slump

Chinese EV giant BYD beats Tesla in quarterly revenue for first time

Germany urges compromise in EU-China EV row; Volkswagen profits plunges on China slump

ENERGY TECH
Silk Thread Innovation Powers Smart Textile Technology

Direct Observation of Space Charge Layers Inside Fuel Cell Electrolytes

Exploring the cost and feasibility of battery-electric ships

EU's extra tariffs of up to 35.3% on Chinese EVs angers Beijing

ENERGY TECH
Small modular nuclear reactors may drive US energy and emissions progress

Building the materials for the next generation of nuclear reactor

Framatome expands cybersecurity capabilities with acquisition of Allentis

Niger disputes French firm's uranium move

ENERGY TECH
China hopes for 'consistency' in US climate policy

Climate finance billions at stake at COP29

EU greenhouse gas emissions saw 'huge' drop in 2023

Trees and power lines flattened as Cyclone Dana hits India

ENERGY TECH
Indonesia tribe's homeland at risk after losing final appeal: NGOs

Veea Amazon and AECOM partner to build the Internet of Forests in Colombia

Autumn season science event invites volunteers to track leaf color change

One in three tree species at risk of extinction: report

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.