High-Efficiency Micro Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Developed


Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are seen as one of the more favorable types of fuel cells because they have the highest efficiency when it comes to power generation. Additionally, because they're made out of solid materials, it can easily be handled, and the power generation doesn't fluctuate. While SOFCs sound like they'd be perfect power sources for just about anything, their operating temperatures that average between 800 and 900 degrees Celsius deter the technology from being developed for portable power source use.

A recent collaboration by a number of institutes including the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology or AIST of Japan was able to develop a micro solid oxide fuel cell module. The portable power source has a high performance level and can operate in temperatures equivalent to or below 650 degrees Celsius made possible by the fabrication of cell bundles able to start and stop rapidly upon command. Working on how the bundles of cells are arranged enabled the researchers to come up with an efficient SOFC that's diminutive in size. The scientists involved in the study are currently working on improving the technology even more and introducing more new features into the product.

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