Proton Conducting Electrolyte with Me Gradient for Solid Oxide Cells
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Solid oxide cells face challenges in suppressing both gas cross-leak and electron leak, while also requiring reduced material costs and lower electric resistance, without using expensive noble metals.
Innovation Solution
A thin-film-shaped proton conducting electrolyte is designed with distinct portions to prevent gas cross-leak and electron leak, utilizing a gradient or laminated structure of Me content (e.g., Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) in an oxide material, where the Me content varies from one surface to the other, optimizing the electrolyte's compactness and conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the film thickness of the proton conducting electrolyte is reduced to lower electric resistance and material costs, then productivity improves, but manufacturing precision becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to manufacture a single ultra-thin layer with precise thickness control, the electrolyte is segmented into two layers of moderate thickness. This approach relaxes the manufacturing precision requirements for each individual layer while achieving the overall thin-film objective for reduced resistance and cost.
2Reliability
If expensive noble metals like Pd are used to suppress electron leak, then reliability improves, but material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive noble metals with inexpensive transient metals (Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) to achieve the same electron leak suppression function. The transient metals provide the necessary electronic properties at a fraction of the cost of noble metals like Pd, making the solid oxide cell economically viable.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively reduces both gas cross-leak and electron leak, enhancing power generation efficiency and hydrogen separation performance while minimizing costs and electric resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a proton conducting electrolyte serving as a conductive carrier with a high proton transference number
Implementation Method 2
a proper amount of a transient metal is caused to dissolve as a solid solution, into the proton conducting electrolyte to significantly improve the compactness of the proton conducting electrolyte
Data Source
AI summary
An electrolyte of a solid oxide cell is required to be capable of suppressing both gas cross-leak and electron leak. In addition, it is important from the viewpoint of a reduction in material costs and in the electric resistance of the electrolyte that the electrolyte is made into a thin film and that no expensive noble metal is used. The present invention provides a thin-film-shaped proton conducting electrolyte capable of suppressing both gas cross-leak and electron leak, a solid oxide cell using the proton conducting electrolyte, and a manufacturing method for the proton conducting electrolyte and the solid oxide cell. A proton conducting electrolyte using an oxide material having proton conductivity is provided. The proton conducting electrolyte includes a first portion containing Me (Me=at least any one of Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu), and a second portion different in Me content from the first portion.