Activities of the 'Genoa Joint Laboratories on High
Temperature Fuel Cells'
ESF/PESC Exploratory Workshop
Proton Conducting Materials For Next-Generation Solid
Oxide Fuel Cells
Genoa, Italy 22 – 24 October
2007
Introduction
The joint
activity of the Genoa Laboratories (G.J.L.) started in 2002 between CNR-
Institute for ENergetics and Interphases (IENI) and Department of Chemical
Engineering and Processes (DICheP) with the intention to exploit their skills,
respectively on electroceramics and electrochemistry, in the field of high temperature fuel cells
(HTFC). This first experience was extremely positive and two years ago we had
the opportunity to widen our know-how with the knowledge on metallurgy and
intermetallics of the Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI).
Recently, attracted by the importance gained by the modelling of the processes
in fuel cells, two more researchers dealing with these aspects have been
involved in our studies. The three joint laboratories are conveniently located
in Genoa and allowing easy sharing of the research activity. The synergy of joint Labs makes available a
wide spectra of facilities, from synthesis of powder to the final realisation of
SOFC and its complete characterisation. Nowadays G.J.L. account for 5 senior
researchers fully devoted to the HTFC and 5 PhD students close to the end of
their doctorate and ready to continue their activities within G.J.L. as
Post-Doc. Several students of the local Chemical Engineering and Sciences
Faculties as well as foreign students and young researchers give a significant
contribution to our researches.
Research activities
The
research issues faced by G.J.L are the following:
- Synthesis
of materials for cathode and anode for IT-SOFCs;
- Synthesis
of protonic electrolyte for IT/LT-SOFCs;
- Realisation of engineered electrodes;
- Study
of the electrochemical kinetic of anode and cathode for SOFCs and MCFCs;
- Study
of the behaviour of metallic interconnect differently coated tested at
working conditions;
- Models
for the study of the distribution of active sites in composite electrodes.
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Industrial and
research Contracts
On-going
contracts in the field of HTFC:
- FISR
Study of the activity of electrodes and electrolytes for SOFCs
- Ansaldo
Fuel Cells, Study of electrodes for MCFC
- ERG
S.p.A., Study of the reliability and durability of MCFC plant feed with
SynGas
- MAP,Development
of materials and components, demonstration and optimisation of Fuel Cells
(SOFC, MCFC, PEFC) systems for cogeneration
- EU-FP7,
Innovative duel membrane fuel cell “IDEAL-Cell”
Further
opportunity to open our activity to foreigner colleagues and students with the
aid of grants are:
Bilateral agreement with the Bulgarian Academy of
Science,
Erasmus-Socrates project with the University of Barcelona and Bourgogne.
In recent
years the G.J.L has strengthened collaborations/activities with several
laboratories in Europe, especially with the:
- Institute
of electrochemistry and energy systems, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,
Bulgaria;
- German
Aerospace Center, DLR, Stutgard, Germany.
- Centre
des Matériaux, UMR 7633-CNRS Ecole des Mines de Paris, France
- Fuel
Cell and Energy, Institute Carnot de Bourgogne, UMR 5209-CNRS Université
de Bourgogne, France
- Laboratory
of Electrochemical Science and Technology of Materials,University of
Barcelona, Spain;
Chemical
and Biological Engineering Montana State University, MT-USA
An intense
exchange of data, information and personnel are continuously experienced.
The aim of G.J.L.
A strong
belief that HTFC constitute a real opportunity to produce energy in a
sustainable way and that HTFC are the correct technology to invest in, even if,
still for long time hydrogen will not be available as a cheap and durable
resource, are the pillars of G.J.L.
Starting
from these points the G.J.L. research activities aim is to gain skills and
know-how on HTFC in order to become a real player on this field giving
contribution with new solutions and knowledge.
Furthermore,
G.J.L. has the ambition to be a research group open to cooperation with
scientific community for the development of fuel cells in this very crucial
challenge of the human history.
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Contacts
Massimo Viviani, m.viviani@ge.ieni.cnr.it
ph. ++39 0106475705 fax
++39 0106476700
Paolo Piccardo, pol@chimica.unige.it
ph. ++39 0103536145 fax
++39 0103625051
Antonio Barbucci, barbucci@unige.it
ph ++39 0103536030 fax ++39
0103536028
