Deconvolution of SOFC Cathode Polarization
Thursday, April 16, 2009
3:30 p.m.
1107 Kim Engineering Building
For More Information:
Greg Jackson
301-405-2368
gsjackso@umd.edu

Transforming Energy Lecture Series

Eric Wachsman - Director of Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy, University of Florida

Abstract

Fuel cells offer great promise as a clean and efficient process for directly converting chemical energy to electricity while providing significant environmental benefits. Among the different fuel cell technologies, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are unique in their ability to operate both within the current fossil fuel based energy infrastructure and as part of a future proposed hydrogen fuel infrastructure. SOFC cost and reliability are limited by high operating temperature requirements. With the current state of the art SOFCs, performance at lower temperature is limited by cathode polarization.

In order to understand the various mechanistic contributions to cathode polarization and apply this knowledge to development of lower-polarization/lower-temperature SOFC cathodes, we have embarked on a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary approach to deconvolute the various contributions to SOFC cathode polarization. The progress to date on this investigation will be presented.

Biography

Dr. Wachsman is the Director of the Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy High Temperature Electrochemistry Center at the University of Florida, and the Rhines Chair Professor of Department of Materials Science & Engineering. He received his Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from Stanford University, and his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Wachsman has focused his career on developing advanced, efficient, energy conversion devices and technologies. His research is on ionic transport in solids and the heterogeneous electrocatalysis at their surface. This research includes the development of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), gas separation membranes, solid-state gas sensors, the electrocatalytic conversion of CH4, and the post-combustion reduction of NOx using advanced ion conducting materials.

The Transforming Energy Lecture Series opens discussions about the engineering challenges of developing breakthrough energy technology for a sustainable future. The A. James Clark School of Engineering has invited leading thinkers and technologists from academia, industry and government to provide viewpoints on these challenges. Exciting new scientific and engineering breakthroughs will be discussed, some of which may impact the future development of a sustainable energy infrastructure for our nation.

This Event is For: Graduate • Faculty • Post-Docs