SOFCs are electrochemical cells that can convert chemical energy into electrical energy from the oxidation of fuel (fuel diperguanakan can be either hydrocarbon or hydrogen gas). The reactions between gaseous fuel with oxygen involves the handing over of electrons to produce electrical current. When the fuel used is hydrogen gas is a byproduct of this reaction is water, so that the energy source of SOFCs is the environmentally friendly energy and therefore SOFCs is now a growing research material for commercial purposes.
Every single cell SOFCs or also called as a module comprises four main sections namely the anode, electrolyte, cathode and interkonektor. Interkonektor in between the anode-electrolyte-cathode and serves to connect a single cell SOFCs with other SOFCs cells so that electrical energy generated by each cell can be merged.
To generate electrical energy in large quantities then the modules are assembled to one another in a series of custody. So a whole string of SOFCs have the following order: Interkonektor-electrolyte-anode-cathode-anode-interkonektor-electrolyte-cathode-interkonektor and so on. There should be separation between the modules (we refer to as: seals) to ensure there is no air and fuel to be mixed, if this happens it will reduce the efficiency of fuel cells SOFCs and may result in the combustion reaction inside the module.
Peizhen (Kathy) Lu, assistant professor of materials science and materials engineering at Virginia Tech. states that "seals are the biggest problems to be faced in the development of SOFCs commercially" and seals it into one of the weaknesses of SOFCs that must be faced that SOFCs technology can be commercialized.
Fortunately, after doing a long research Lu managed to find a glass-based material that can serve as potential seals. Seals of the glass material has the strength and durability for use in a long series of SOFCs. Inevitably with this invention then the United States Department of Energy did not hesitate poured funds approximately $ 365,000 to develop a research Lu.
Lu stated that in order for SOFCs can operate it would require a fuel source. One of the promising fuel source is hydrogen gas according to him, because hydrogen gas is the cleanest energy sources and environmentally friendly ever. The problem is, the gas contained hydrogen dialam limited.
"We must find ways to get hydrogen gas resources", said Lu. One alternative is to use a process he called "solid oxide cell elecrolyzer process". With this process in the form of water from the exhaust gas can be processed again for SOFCs produced hydrogen and oxygen gases. Hydrogen gas can then be used again to oksigenya SOFCs and gas can be used for the oxidation process of hydrogen gas.
"Our research interest is on problems that arise on the materials used in critical condition to be able to generate electrical energy and ways to produce hydrogen gas in large quantities at low cost," said Lu who is also an expert in the field of materials design and synthesis of materials .
Miller said that the Manager of Licensing Intellectual Property Rights Virginia Tech stated, "Seal glass that has been found to be free of barium oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium and other alkali oxides, such as additional seals contain boron oxide only in very few and even be ignored ".
This is particularly important given the nature of the seals used must be mechanically and chemically compatible with various oxide and metal components considering the use of fuel cells SOFCs are always recurring and involve changes in temperature from room temperature to high temperatures during operation which is about 1.800 degrees F ( 1.000 C).
from:www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090521184437.htm