Eco Factor: Low-cost fuel cells developed by replacing platinum with cheaper materials.
Researchers at Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have created all-ceramic thin-film solid-oxide fuel cells that don’t contain any platinum. If the development could make its way into production, the world could be seeing fuel cells that use more abundant and less expensive fuels and materials.
Traditionally SOFCs need platinum-coated electrodes, which can be both expensive and unreliable. The all-ceramic fuel cells are most cost effective and can be used as a reliable power source. The Harvard team has also created a micro-SOFC that draws its power from methane rather than hydrogen.
Traditionally, hydrogen has been the medium of choice for SOFCs, but methane is more abundant, cheaper and needs less processing. The micro-SOFC developed by the team has an operating temperature of less than 500 degrees Celsius, which conventionally is about 800 degrees Celsius. The research team wants to even reduce the operating temperature to about 300C, at which the cells can be used in transportation vehicles.
Via: Gizmag
