Nano-crystals added to solid electrolyte material can make fuel cells function more efficiently, says a research team at the University of Technology, Delft.
The second research paper has recently been published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
The team at the Faculty of Applied Sciences was endeavoring to improve electrolyte material, which exists between two electrodes in a fuel cell or battery. The efficiency of the fuel cell or battery is directly proportional to the properties of the electrolyte.
According to postdoctoral student Lucas Haverkate, liquid electrolyte needs to be packed well but occupies more space. Solid electrolytes, which are more compact but are not good conductors. A solid material has a network of ions, which occupies the whole space, making it hard for charged particles (protons) to move between electrodes, causing a virtual traffic jam and this necessitates the provision of free space. This can be effected by employing nanocrystals measuring 7 to 50nm of Titanium Dioxide to be added to the solid electrolyte to increase conductivity. The crystals attract protons creating more space in the network. They are blended into the electrolyte with a solid acid (CsHSO4) that transports the protons to the crystals. This causes an upsurge in conductivity to a factor of 100.
Another team member Wing Kee Chan measured the electrolyte material with the neutron diffraction technique. This method involves dispersing neutrons through the material. This method helps identify its properties, including protons density in the crystals.
Source: http://tudelft.nl/