The engineering penetration opens the door to the strength of the cheap hydrogen

As a substitute for fossil fuel caution, hydrogen fuel cells carry a tremendous promise. But they are also very difficult and costly to manage it, which greatly explains the reason for not seeing it everywhere (or anywhere, in this regard, with the exception of some initiatives that are “exploration“Its efficiency). But this may change soon.

in Nature A paper published on August 8, researchers announced the development of a new type of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that addresses a basic problem for these implications: temperature. Hydrogen fuel cells, type of SOFC, convert hydrogen gas directly into energy and water. This process, although it is very effective and long -term, requires highly mockery temperatures ranging from 1,292 to 1,472 degrees Fahrenheit (700 to 800 ° C).

The new cell, however, operates on only 572 ° F (300 ° C), less than half of what was previously required. “Reducing the work temperature to 300 degrees Celsius would reduce the costs of materials and opens the door to consumer level systems,” said Yamazaki Yamazaki, a great author of authors and material engineer at Kyusho University in Japan. statement.

Specifically, the team focused on re -engineering of the electricity, which is a layer of ceramic consisting of different atomic structures arranged in a crystal poetic. In hydrogen fuel cells, charged hydrogen ions are transmitted positively, or protons, through these crystal paths to convert hydrogen gas into energy and water. Usually, the fuel cell should work under very high temperatures to work, which researchers tried to overcome using Chemical steroids– Added shirts to process the physical properties of the material – in combination with appropriate oxide crystal.

“But this also comes with a challenge,” Yamazaki explained. “The addition of chemical steroids can increase the number of mobile protons that pass through the electricity, but it usually blocks the crystal network, which slows the protons.”

After testing many candidates, the team was held on two vehicles, Barium Stannate and Barium Titanate. When used with scandium at 572 degrees Fahrenheit, the two articles showed efficiency levels with SOFCs in much higher temperatures.

Yamazaki explained that the nanatium atoms are closed on oxygen atoms to form a “wide and mutated highway (molecular) enabled the protons to travel with” an unusual low migration barrier “.

“Our work transforms a long -term scientific paradox into a practical solution, which makes the strength of hydrogen at reasonable prices closer to daily life,” Yamazaki said.

Compared to room temperatures, 572 degrees Fahrenheit still is very high. However, this reduction remains important and draws a promising future to reduce operating temperatures more – as well as operating costs – for SOFCS’s widespread practical implementation.