Advanced Ceramic Fuel Cell R&D

Since many years in Swedish national research project and Swedish-Chinese research framework we have carried out advanced ceramic fuel cell research and development, targeting for intermediate and low temperature ceramic or solid oxide fuel cells (ILTCFCs or ILTSOFCs, 300–700°C) based on ceramic-based composite materials. The ceramic composite material developments in Sweden have been experienced from the oxyacid-salts oxide proton-based conductors, non-oxide containment salts, the ceria-based composite electrolytes and nano-composites. Among them the ceria-based composites showed excellent ionic conductivity of 0.01 to 1 Scm⁻¹ and ILTCFCs using these composites as electrolytes have achieved high performances of 200 to 1000 mWcm⁻² at temperatures between 400 and 700°C. The excellent ion conduction was resulted from hybrid proton and oxygen ion conduction. The hybrid ion conduction and dual electrode reactions and processes create a new fuel cell system. Advanced ceramic fuel cell aims at developing a new generation to realize the challenges for fuel cell commercialization. This paper reviews our more than 14 years R&D on the field with emphasis on the recent progresses and achievements.