A Carbon-Air Battery for High Power Generation

Honeycombed Porous, Size-Matching Architecture for High-Performance Hybrid Direct Carbon Fuel Cell Anode

Direct carbon fuel cells (DCFCs) demonstrate both superior electrical efficiency and fuel utilization compared to all other types of fuel cells, and it will be the most promising carbon utilization technology if the sluggish anode reaction kinetics that derives from the use of solid fuel can be addressed. Herein, the electrode morphology and fuel particle size are comprehensively considered to fabricate an efficient DCFC anode skeleton. A honeycombed and size-matching anode architecture with dual-scale porous structure is developed by water droplet templating, which demonstrates an efficient strategy to address the challenge of poor carbon reactivity and improve the electrochemical performance of DCFCs. Single cell with this designed anode framework demonstrates excellent performance, and the maximum power density is as high as 765 mW cm^-2 at 800 °C when using the matching carbon fuel. The size-matching between carbon fuel and anode framework shows a remarkable effect on the improvement of mass-transfer processes at the anodes. The significant contribution of the difficult electrochemical oxidation of carbon to the output performance is also demonstrated. These results represent a promising structural design strategy in developing high-performing fuel cells.

Synthesis of nanocrystalline strontium titanate by a sol–gel assisted solid phase method and its formation mechanism and photocatalytic activity

Strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) with a perovskite structure is widely applied to hydrogen production by photolysis water splitting.

A High-Performing Direct Carbon Fuel Cell with a 3D Architectured Anode Operated Below 600 °C

Direct carbon fuel cells (DCFCs) are highly efficient power generators fueled by abundant and cheap solid carbons. However, the limited triple-phase boundaries (TPBs) in the fuel electrode, due to the lack of direct contact among carbon, electrode, and electrolyte, inhibit the performance and result in poor fuel utilization. To address the challenges of low carbon oxidation activity and low carbon utilization, a highly efficient, 3D solid-state architected anode is developed to enhance the performance of DCFCs below 600 °C. The cell with the 3D textile anode framework, Gd:CeO₂ -Li/Na₂ CO₃ composite electrolyte, and Sm_0.5 Sr_0.5 CoO₃ cathode demonstrates excellent performance with maximum power densities of 143, 196, and 325 mW cm^-2 at 500, 550, and 600 °C, respectively. At 500 °C, the cells can be operated steadily with a rated power density of ≈0.13 W cm^-2 at a constant current density of 0.15 A cm^-2 with a carbon utilization over 85.5%. These results, for the first time, demonstrate the feasibility of directly electrochemical oxidation of solid carbon at 500-600 °C, representing a promising strategy in developing high-performing fuel cells and other electrochemical systems via the integration of 3D architected electrodes.