Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026
11:38
Influence of Hybrid Perovskite Fabrication Methods on Film Formation, Electronic Structure, and Solar Cell Performance
Published on: February 27, 2017
19.1K
Strongly correlated perovskite fuel cells
You Zhou1, Xiaofei Guan1, Hua Zhou2
1John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
Nature
|June 10, 2016
Summary
Researchers developed a novel solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) using a perovskite nickelate electrolyte. This design suppresses electronic leakage, enhancing fuel cell performance and durability.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Solid State Physics
Background:
- Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer high efficiency and environmental benefits over traditional engines.
- Yttria-stabilized zirconia is a leading electrolyte material for SOFCs due to its stability.
- Existing electrolytes face challenges with electronic leakage in reducing environments, impacting performance and durability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore alternative electrolyte designs for SOFCs beyond traditional cation substitution.
- To investigate the use of perovskite nickelates as electrolytes in SOFCs.
- To demonstrate a high-performance, low-temperature SOFC utilizing a novel electrolyte strategy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a perovskite nickelate as the electrolyte material.
- Induced a Mott transition via spontaneous hydrogen incorporation to control electronic conduction.
- Fabricated a free-standing membrane SOFC for testing.
Main Results:
- Achieved high ionic and electronic conductivity in the perovskite nickelate electrolyte.
- Successfully suppressed electronic leakage through hydrogen-induced Mott transition.
- Demonstrated a high-performance, low-temperature micro-fabricated SOFC.
Conclusions:
- Perovskite nickelates offer a promising alternative for SOFC electrolytes.
- Controlling electron correlations via hydrogen incorporation is an effective strategy for electrolyte design.
- This approach enables high-performance SOFCs with enhanced durability and efficiency.
Related Concept Videos
03:12Batteries and Fuel Cells
31.8K
A battery is a galvanic cell that is used as a source of electrical power for specific applications. Modern batteries exist in a multitude of forms to accommodate various applications, from tiny button batteries such as those that power wristwatches to the very large batteries used to supply backup energy to municipal power grids. Some batteries are designed for single-use applications and cannot be recharged (primary cells), while others are based on conveniently reversible cell reactions that...
31.8K
02:47Voltaic/Galvanic Cells
67.9K
Spontaneous Chemical Reactions
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...
67.9K
01:28Electrochemical Cells
82
Electrochemical cells are systems that convert chemical energy into electrical energy or use electrical energy to drive chemical reactions. They consist of two electrodes in contact with an electrolyte, where redox reactions enable electron transfer. Most electrochemical cells include two half-cells connected by an external wire for electron flow and a salt bridge for ion flow. The salt bridge contains an electrolyte solution and maintains charge neutrality by allowing ions—not...
82
01:26Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
3.2K
Electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions. They involve an intramolecular cyclization or ring-opening of a conjugated polyene. Shown below are two examples of electrocyclic reactions. In the first reaction, the formation of the cyclic product is favored. In contrast, in the second reaction, ring-opening is favored due to the high ring strain associated with cyclobutene formation.
3.2K
01:24Electrochemical Systems
55
Electrochemical systems provide a fascinating insight into the dynamic interplay of charged species within various phases. One notable example is the interaction between a membrane permeable to K⁺ ions but not to Cl⁻ ions, separating an aqueous KCl solution from pure water. As K⁺ ions diffuse through the membrane, they generate net charges on each phase, leading to a potential difference between them.Similarly, when a piece of Zn is immersed in an aqueous ZnSO₄ solution,...
55
03:02Standard Electrode Potentials
51.7K
On comparing the reactivity of silver and lead, it is observed that the two ionic species, Ag+ (aq) and Pb2+ (aq), show a difference in their redox reactivity towards copper: the silver ion undergoes spontaneous reduction, while the lead ion does not. This relative redox activity can be easily quantified in electrochemical cells by a property called cell potential. This property is commonly known as cell voltage in electrochemistry, and it is a measure of the energy which accompanies the charge...
51.7K