Areas of Interest
The school’s interest is in high
temperature fuel cells, primarily solid oxide fuel cells. Specifically the
group is interested in basic material studies for fuel cell electrolyte and
electrode materials, development of new fuel cell concepts via tapecasting and thin film electrolyte formation,
development of new electrodes that have better redox
tolerance and offer higher efficiency both in hydrocarbon and in low steam
hydrocarbon systems. The focus is on ceramic fuel cells, basically on the
stability, durability and efficiency. There is also interest in proton
conducting oxides, intermediate temperature fuel cells and fuel cells that
utilise alternative fuels such as carbon or ammonia. The production of fuels
for high temperature fuel cells, especially in achieving high efficiency
electrolysis as well as producing other chemical fuels than hydrogen, such as
ammonia, is also of interest.
Activity and Expertise
The current research team is 20 strong with a range
of programmes of activity. The first of
these is to develop a new solid oxide fuel cell concept, the SOFCROLL, which
utilises tape casting to produce a very compact fuel cell design that is fired
in a one-step process. This concept has
been proven and scale up and larger modules build is sought. A key activity is
the development of new fuel electrodes that are more tolerant to impurities, oxygen leaks and work in fairly dry hydrocarbon
fuels, to achieve this some new oxide materials have been developed. The group
has quite a range of basic studies looking at the solid state chemical,
electrochemical and structural properties of materials as interconnects
electrolytes and electrodes. Support comes from the EU, EPSRC, Scottish
Enterprise, UK
Credentials
Fuel cell and/or Hydrogen courses and modules offered:
None
currently.
Contact: Prof John
TS Irvine
Email: jtsi@st-andrews.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1334 463817
Address: