Introduction of a New Kind of Fuel Cell Through Perovskites

Perovskites – a category of crystals assures to advance the solar cells. According to the researchers, they could now also improve the functioning ability of the fuel cells. Fuel cells are used for converting the chemical energy, which is warehoused in fuels like hydrogen into electric energy. They carry the conversion process by leading to a reaction of the fuel with oxygen or any other oxidizing agent, which can shred electrons from the fuel. Either ceramic or polymer is used as electrolyte to interpose between the oxidizer and the fuel and aid shuttling ions with the cell.

Fuel cells are more environment-friendly and energy-efficient than heat engines like internal combustion engines which are mainly used to power cars. However, there is one limitation of these cells, which is the ability of their electrolytes to prevent electrons from dripping through them at an intersection point where the oxidizing agent and fuel encounter. Also, it can result in disastrous ruptures in the electrolyte.

Now scientists suggest that perovskites can be used to introduce a novel type of fuel cell electrolyte that can destroy the conducting power of the electrons. These crystals are generated in the labs and are affordable. The perovskites solar cells have gained immense popularity in the world of photovoltaic because of their ability to quickly bring efficiency in silicon-based devices.

Such cell electrolytes are mainly selected by how well they enable ions to generate energy through them. As an alternative, the researchers begin the process with a perovskite that is conductive to electrons as well as ions. Most of the perovskites are elements known as robustly correlated materials where each electron generates an intricate impact on its equals. By bringing a perovskite in contact with hydrogen fuel, the researchers have identified that the electrons of both the perovskite and hydrogen interacted with each other. It resulted in a combined quantum mechanical effect that hampers the conducting efficiency of an electron through perovskite by around 100 million-fold in comparison to the substance in its original state.

“We have validated an exclusively novel approach to planning solid electrolytes for electrochemical power devices,” says an analysis was done by senior author Shriram Ramanathan, a materials scientist at Purdue University. “This unwrap a novel field of supplies research for batteries and fuel cells.”

In investigations with a perovskite samarium nickelate electrolyte, the scientists discovered that their fuel cell lead to a maximum power output of 225 milliwatts per square centimeter at 500 degrees C that they say was analogous to the finest performing proton conducting fuel cells in the equivalent temperature range.

Conclusion – “The future research will be emphasis on increasing electrodes that can intermingle well with the novel electrolyte and on ascending the technique for practical power creation in applications like vehicles and portable units,” Ramanathan says. Now that everything is going pretty fine the awaited thing is the use of these fuel cells in various applications and monitors their performance and efficiency during the process.