Electrochemical performance of different carbon fuels on a hybrid direct carbon fuel cell

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for a RSE BP Hutton Prize in Energy Innovation and EPSRC Platform grant, EP/K015540/1.In this work, three processed carbon fuels including activated carbon, carbon black and graphite have been employed to investigate influence of the chemical and physical properties of carbon on the HDCFC performance in different anode atmospheres at 650–800 °C. The results reveal that the electrochemical activity is strongly dependent on crystalline structure, thermal stability and textural properties of carbon fuels. The activated carbon samples demonstrate a better performance with a peak power density of 326 mW cm−2 in CO2 at 750 °C, compared to 147 and 59 mW cm−2 with carbon black and graphite samples, respectively. Compared to the ohmic resistance, the polarization resistance plays a more dominated role in the cell performance. When replacing N2 by CO2 purge gas, the power density is the strongly temperature dependent due to the Boudouard reaction.PostprintPeer reviewe

Non-stoichiometry, structure and properties of proton-conducting perovskite oxides

We appreciate that EPSRC-EP/P007821/1 and LERG for funding support.The demand for clean and sustainable energy has garnered great interest in new energy materials. Among them, high temperature proton-conducting perovskite oxides are, or can be widely used in clean energy applications (including fuel cells, electrochemical reactors, solid-state separators and supports of catalytic components via various reduction and oxidation reactions) in the intermediate temperature range. The control of defect chemistry is the main strategy to fine tune properties for these applications. This review provides a critical discussion about non-stoichiometry-structure-property relation in terms of structure distortions by intrinsic octahedral titling and extrinsic acceptor doping, chemical stability, hydration behavior, transport properties, and catalytic effects in some typical classes of proton conducting perovskites and perovskite-related derivatives. A good understanding of A-site and B-site non-stoichiometry is also given to allow the perovskite structure with desired properties.PostprintPeer reviewe

Review of molten carbonate-based direct carbon fuel cells

Abstract Direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) is a promising technology with high energy efficiency and abundant fuel. To date, a variety of DCFC configurations have been investigated, with molten hydroxide, molten carbonate or oxides being used as the electrolyte. Recently, there has been particular interest in DCFC with molten carbonate involved. The molten carbonate is either an electrolyte or a catalyst in different cell structures. In this review, we consider carbonate as the clue to discuss the function of carbonate in DCFCs, and start the paper by outlining the developments in terms of molten carbonate (MC)-based DCFC and its electrochemical oxidation processes. Thereafter, the composite electrolyte merging solid carbonate and mixed ionic–electronic conductors (MIEC) are discussed. Hybrid DCFC (HDCFCs ) combining molten carbonate and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) are also touched on. The primary function of carbonate (i.e., facilitating ion transfer and expanding the triple-phase boundaries) in these systems, is then discussed in detail. Finally, some issues are identified and a future outlook outlined, including a corrosion attack of cell components, reactions using inorganic salt from fuel ash, and wetting with carbon fuels

Mechanism of enhanced performance on a hybrid direct carbon fuel cell using sawdust biofuels

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support by the Royal Society of Edinburgh for a RSE BP Hutton Prize in Energy Innovation.Biomass is expected to play a significant role in power generation in the near future. With the uprising of carbon fuel cells, hybrid direct carbon fuel cells (HDCFCs) show its intrinsic and incomparable advantages in the generation of clean energy with higher efficiency. In this study, two types of biomass treated by physical sieve and pyrolysis from raw sawdust are investigated on an anode-supported HDCFC. The structure and thermal analysis indicate that raw sawdust has well-formed cellulose I phase with very low ash. Electrochemical performance behaviors for sieved and pyrolyzed sawdust combined with various weight ratios of carbonate are compared in N2 and CO2 purge gas. The results show that the power output of sieved sawdust with 789 mWcm−2 is superior to that of pyrolyzed sawdust in CO2 flowing, as well as in N2 flowing. The anode reaction mechanism for the discrepancy of two fuels is explained and the emphasis is also placed on the modified oxygen-reduction cycle mechanism of catalytic effects of Li2CO3 and K2CO3 salts in promoting cell performance.PostprintPeer reviewe

Roadmap on inorganic perovskites for energy applications

Authors thank EPSRC (EP/P007821/1) and Low Emissions Resources Global for support.Inorganic perovskites exhibit many important physical properties such as ferroelectricity, magnetoresistance and superconductivity as well their importance as Energy Materials. Many of the most important energy materials are inorganic perovskites and find application in batteries, fuel cells, photocatalysts, catalysis, thermoelectrics and solar thermal. In all these applications, perovskite oxides, or their derivatives offer highly competitive performance, often state of the art and so tend to dominate research into energy material. In the following sections, we review these functionalities in turn seeking to facilitate the interchange of ideas between domains. The potential for improvement is explored and we highlight the importance of both detailed modelling and in situ and operando studies in taking these materials forward.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Did China’s regional planning policies promote employment in the science and technology services sector?

Abstract This paper analyzes the impact of regional planning policies on employment in the field of scientific and technological services, using the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration strategy in China as a case study. A difference-in-differences (DID) model is applied to conduct a quasi-natural experiment. The paper systematically examines the policy-driven effects of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration strategy on employment in scientific and technological services, the heterogeneity of the policy effects from the perspective of cross-regional industrial cooperation, and the moderating role of regional per capita income levels. The empirical results show that after controlling for provincial and year-fixed effects, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration strategy led to a 24.62% increase in employment in the scientific and technological services sector in the province. The results pass both the parallel trends test and the placebo test. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the integration strategy resulted in an 18.31% increase in employment in the scientific and technological services sector in the “core radiation area” provinces and a 25.10% increase in the “peripheral cooperation area” provinces. The findings of this study offer a new perspective on evaluating the policy implementation effects of regional planning policies on talent employment