THIN FILM SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL

FUEL CELLS OFFER MANY ADVANTAGES OVER STANDARD POWER PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, INCLUDING FULL CYCLE EFFICIENCIES OF 60%, A WIDE RANGE OF USEABLE FUELS AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUNDCOMBUSTION WITH VERY LOW EMISSIONS. HOWEVER, FACTORS SUCH AS COST AND LOW PERFORMANCE HAVE HELD THESE SYSTEMS BACK. ANALYTIC POWER PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL WITH A UNITIZED, BIPOLAR DESIGN USING LOW RESISTIVITY THIN SOLID OXIDE FILMS PRODUCED BY REACTIVE MAGNETRON SPUTTERING TECHNIQUES. THESE FEATURES SHOULD REDUCE PRODUCTION COSTS AND SYSTEM COMPLEXITY AS WELL AS ALLOW OPERATION AT TEMPERATURES OF 600 TO 700 DEGREES CENTIGRADE. THIS CELL CAN OPERATE ON INTERNALLY REFORMED HYDROCARBON FUELS AND AIR, THEREBY INCREASING POWER PLANT EFFICIENCY. DURING THE PROGRAM, AT LEAST FOUR DIFFERENT CELL CONFIGURATIONS WILL BE TESTED AT VARIOUS OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND REACTANT UTILIZATIONS IN ORDER TO OPTIMIZE ELECTROLYTE AND ELECTRODE STRUCTURE. THE PERFORMANCE GOAL IS 0.5 V, 500 ASF @ 700 DEGREES CENTIGRADE. ANALYTIC POWER BUILDS FUEL CELL POWER SYSTEMS FOR PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND THE GOVERNMENT. DR. SCOTT BARNETT, OUR CONSULTANT, IS A LEADER IN THE FIELD OF REACTIVE MAGNETRON SPUTTERING. BY TEAMING WITH DR. BARNETT, ANALYTIC POWER HOPES TO DEVELOP A VERY PROMISING TECHNOLOGY INTO WORKABLE PRODUCTS.