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Synthesis of nanosized electroceramics for intermediate temperature fuel cells. (08 IT 55X8 0J3S)
An Italian University team has developed a new method based on synthesis of selected nano-sized ceramics and assembling fuel cell single-units. The technology consists both in the synthesis of selected nano-sized ceramics and assembling fuel cell single-units.
The researchers are looking for funding sponsors such as industry and research organisation willing to support seeding and pre-seeding financial initiatives towards renewable energy and fuel cells.
Country: Italy
Type: OFFER
Date: 19.12.2011
Nanostructured materials have attracted great interest because of the unusual mechanical, electrical and optical properties endowed and the emergence of nanotechnology as a major field of research has touched almost every scientific discipline. The advancement of nanotechnology is today made possible by the development new preparation and characterization methods for materials and composites on a nanometric scale. Sol-gel technique, spray pyrolysis, pulsed laser deposition are some methods to obtain nanostructured materials. Such products applications included catalysts for fuel cell applications, semiconductors for photovoltaic and photo-electrochemical solar energy conversion, and chemical and biological sensors. Materials research focused also on storage of electrical energy in rechargeable batteries and hydrogen in hydride-forming system has been the subject of research in the field of Solid State Ionics for several decades. In addition, materials for solid-state fuel cells have been studied in the great detail and the focus is now more on materials for the Intermediate-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (IT-SOFC). The electrical properties of the components of these devices can be improved substantially by decreasing the length scale to the nano scale.
Innovative Aspects:
Nanostructured electroceramics are distinguished from conventional polycrystalline materials by the large fraction of grain bound in the bulk of a material with nanostructured microstructure. Here surface properties start to determine bulk properties, but also ions away from the internal surfaces experience modified conditions.
Nanomaterials and their properties can act to reduce losses in the fuel cells. Particularly, nanostructured materials with enhanced catalytic properties can reduce activation and concentration polarization while nanometric ionic conductors with high conductivity reduce ohmic drop at the electrolyte.
The nanomaterials increment the fuel cell performance and reduce the fabrication temperature for produce the components and the operative temperature of the device. These reduce the cost for the assembling of the entire solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system.
Degree of development:
Patents/Rights: Secret know-how
Requested Cooperation: Joint further development, Joint Venture Agreement
- Type of partner sought:
industry, academy, research organisation
- Specific area of activity of the partner:
renewable energy and fuel cells applications
- Task to be performed:
The researchers are looking for technical co-operation with a view to join further development, a join venture agreement and funding sponsors such as industry and research organisations willing to support seeding and pre-seeding financial initiatives towards renewable energy and fuel cells.
Type of Organisation:
Status: NEW
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