Development of novel cathode materials to realize intermediate temperature fuel cells; A major change of the material exploring field

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22041
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 26:Materials engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Omata Takahisa 東北大学, 多元物質科学研究所, 教授 (80267640)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 鈴木 一誓 東北大学, 多元物質科学研究所, 助教 (60821717)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 混合伝導体 / プロトン伝導体 / 燃料電池 / 空気極材料

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The proton conductivity of H0.39WO3 was determined to be 1.4×10-3 to 1.1×10-1Scm-1 at 300°C from the hydrogen permeation measurement and the proton conductivity measurement using a phosphate glass as a blocking electrode. This value is higher than the proton conductivity of phosphate glass electrolytes, indicating that the proton conductivity of WO3 is extremely high and the WO3-based materials have high potential as a cathode material. The electronic conductivity of the WO3-based material was successfully maintained at 10 Scm-1 in air at 300°C by Ca0.02HxWO3; the electronic conductivity is sufficient for cathode materials.

Free Research Field

無機材料の化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は実用化が待望されている中温作動型燃料電池の要素材料である空気極材料に関するものである。本研究で見出された材料は，従来は達成できなかった300℃という低温での空気極反応の促進と電流の取り出しを成し遂げる高いポテンシャルを有している。すなわち，中温作動型燃料電池を実用化へ導くのに必要な基盤となる材料を見出すことに成功した。従って，本研究の成果は学術的にも社会的にも意義は大きい。