Development of Low-Cost Salts for Lithium-Ion, Rechargeable Batteries

65752 Lowering the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells is the key to achieving commercial cost targets. The use of high conductivity lanthanum gallate as the electrolyte material offers lower temperature performance, but the lanthanum gallate is chemically incompatible with the electrode materials that were previously developed for zirconia fuel cells. This project addresses this limitation by modifying the electrode composition to significantly reduce the driving force for the chemical reaction between the electrolyte and the electrodes during cell fabrication. In Phase I, the compositions of the electrodes were modified to achieve both chemical and physical compatibility of the electrodes with the electrolyte under cell fabrication conditions. In Phase II, processing parameters will be established to fabricate high performance gallate stacks using the electrodes developed in Phase I. Stack performance will be characterized at 650 - 700¿C using natural gas fuel. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should set the stage for natural gas fueled, high efficiency power generation devices. Applications range from small 5 kW cogeneration devices to 50 to 100 kW industrial power generators. Lower temperature operation also should allow the use of solid oxide fuel cells as auxiliary power units in mobile applications.