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E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:
- Gas separation
- Fuel cells
- Catalytic reactors
- Energy generation
- Coal gasification
- Selective oxidation of hydrocarbons
ADVANTAGES:
- Economical
- Increased reliability
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ABSTRACT:
Berkeley Lab researchers Lutgard DeJonghe, Steven Visco,
and Craig Jacobson have focused their attention on solid oxide
fuel cells (SOFC) and related technologies. Fuel cells "burn"
hydrogen or hydrocarbons to produce electricity. They are
highly fuel efficient and almost nonpolluting, making them
an attractive alternative for energy generation. Some solid
oxide fuel cells burn hydrocarbons by first converting them
to hydrogen, while others burn them directly. The latter are
the leading candidates for commercial applications.
Electrochemical devices based on ceramic electrodes and electrolytes
are becoming increasingly important for energy generation,
oxygen separation, coal gasification, and selective oxidation
of hydrocarbons. Much of the cost of manufacturing these devices
is in the raw materials. This innovation provides a means
of reducing the materials costs and increasing the reliability
of such devices. Using a novel support structure, Berkeley
Lab's new device provides electrical conductivity, strength,
and increased reliability, while allowing the use of very
thin (5-20 µm) layers of electrodes and/or electrolyte.
This invention should allow economical production of devices
previously too expensive to commercialize.
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STATUS:
- U.S. Patent #6,605,316, U.S. Patent #6,979,511, and US Patent #7,351,488
- Available for licensing for fuel
cells (both fixed and portable), sensors, gas preparation and separation,
and other applications, with the following limitations: only non-exclusive
rights are available within the field of use of preparation of industrial
gases; only non-exclusive rights are available within the field
of use of solid oxide fuel cells with electrical power output between
0.5kW and 40kW that are designed for installation as a permanent
fixture in residential buildings and small commercial business facilities.
REFERENCE NUMBER: IB-1418
SEE THESE OTHER BERKELEY LAB TECHNOLOGIES IN THIS FIELD:
- Fail-Safe, Inexpensive Electrochemical
Device Stack Design, IB-1658A
- High Quality, Dense Thin Films Using
Metal/Metal Alloy Additives, IB-1654
- Improved Electrode-Electrode Structures
for Solid State Electrochemical Device, IB-1405
- Inexpensive Production of High Density
Thin Ceramic Films on Rigid or Porous Substrates, IB-1302
- Low Cost Fabrication of Thin-Film Ceramic
Membranes for Nonshrinking Substrates, IB-1304
- Metal Current Collector Protected by
Oxide Film, IB-1656
- Method for Making Flat, High Performance
Thin Membrane Structures on Porous Substances, IB-1305
- Support for Planar Solid State Electrochemical
Devices, IB-1790
- Surface Additives for Enhanced Electrode
Performance, IB-1406
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CONTACT: |
Technology
Transfer Department
E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
MS 90-1070
Berkeley, CA 94720
(510) 486-6467 FAX: (510) 486-6457
TTD@lbl.gov |
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