Montana State University's beamline at the National Light Source, includes capabilities for X-ray absorption spectroscopy, soft x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, and soft x-ray resonant magnetic scattering. These techniques are useful in probing the structure and chemistry of buried interfaces in solid oxide fuel cells. Courtesy of PNNL.

The High Temperature Electrochemistry Center (HiTEC) is a research collaboration focused on scientific understanding and technical breakthroughs needed to accomplish DOE’s vision for energy plants of the future, such as FutureGen.  Its mission is to provide crosscutting, multidisciplinary research that leads to advanced electrochemical technologies for minimizing the environmental consequences of using fossil fuel in energy generation.  This collaborative effort is managed by NETL and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL.) Currently, HiTEC is located at PNNL, and the first satellite center is at Montana State University, with a subcontract to the University of Utah as well. Core research activities at PNNL are focused on material science, solid-state electrochemistry and surface chemistry to develop new materials and ways to form and manufacturing them that achieve the cost and performance goals of future energy plants.  At Montana State University, research is related to the deposition of metal oxides thin films and electrochemical reactions at buried interfaces

The Center will be used to develop a fundamental understanding of processes that limit the performance of high-temperature electrochemical systems.  Such systems have applications in fossil energy conversion, reversible fuel cells, membranes, energy storage, hydrogen production and use, gas separation and purification, electrolysis, emissions reduction, thermoelectrics, sensing, and low cost materials manufacturing technologies.  Composed of parallel experimental and modeling activities, research conducted by HiTEC will eventually lead to new concepts and technologies in fossil fuel utilization.

HiTEC is an important means to facilitate reaching technical goals set by the Office of Fossil Energy by fostering collaborative research in high temperature electrochemistry with universities, industry, and other national laboratories. Additional satellite research centers at other universities are planned, focusing on specific topical areas where new scientific knowledge and innovations are needed to overcome the technical challenges being addressed by FutureGen. The HiTEC longer term focus is accelerating the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) in terms of performance, design, new breakthroughs, materials and cost reductions. This multidisciplinary setting will bring together research and build scientific understanding and advance electrochemical innovations for new technologies needed to design and build energy plants that maximize efficiency while minimizing the environmental effects of using fossil fuels.