High-Performance Reversible Solid Oxide Cells for Powering Electric Vehicles, Long-Term Energy Storage, and CO₂...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Rising global energy demand and population growth necessitate advancements in renewable energy and low-emission vehicles for carbon neutralization.
• Reversible solid oxide cells (RSOCs) are a promising technology for efficient power generation, chemical energy storage, and CO2 conversion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of RSOCs for powering electric vehicles (RSOCEVs) for the first time.
• To establish an ideal RSOC stack based on experimental data and compare RSOCEVs with conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

Main Methods:

• Experimental study of RSOCs in both fuel cell and electrolysis modes using H2-H2O and CO-CO2 cycles.
• Establishment of an ideal RSOC stack model based on experimental results.
• Comparative analysis of power densities, energy densities, charging/refueling times, and fuel economy.

Main Results:

• H2-H2O RSOCs demonstrated high electrochemical performance (1.6 W cm-2 peak power density in fuel cell mode; 2.0 A cm-2 current density in electrolysis mode) with durable reversible operation.
• CO-CO2 RSOCs achieved excellent fuel cell performance (0.68 W cm-2 peak power density) and a world record current density of 3.4 A cm-2 in CO2 electrolysis mode.
• RSOCEVs exhibit significant advantages in power density, energy density, and refueling time compared to ICEVs and BEVs.

Conclusions:

• RSOC technology offers a viable pathway for high-efficiency electric vehicles, contributing to carbon neutralization goals.
• RSOCs provide a robust solution for energy storage and CO2 conversion, crucial for a sustainable energy future.
• The study highlights the potential of RSOCs to play a central role in renewable energy systems and CO2 emission mitigation.