Research boost for hydrogen production and energy storage

Two recent studies involving protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs), address challenges in electrochemical manufacturing and efficiency. These innovations are seen as a crucial step toward reliable and affordable solutions for hydrogen production and clean energy storage.

The studies were led by Hanping Ding, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma.

According to the team, PCECs have traditionally struggled to maintain performance under the extreme conditions required for commercial use.

In a study featured in Nature Synthesis, Ding and his colleagues reported a new approach that eliminates the need for cerium-based materials, which are prone to breakdown under high steam and heat.

Instead, the team engineered a method to manufacture pure barium zirconate-based electrolytes that remain stable at record-low operating temperatures, a development that allows the system to run efficiently under intense electrochemical conditions.

A second study, published in Nature Communications, focussed on oxygen electrodes. Led by Ding’s team and graduate student Shuanglin Zheng, the researchers developed a new ultra-porous nano-architecture electrode with triple phase conductivity, thereby giving it the ability to transport electrons, oxygen ions and protons, which improves electrolysis kinetics.