Project description
Faster manufacturing for clean energy cells
Protonic ceramic fuel and electrolysis cells (PCFC/PCEC) represent a breakthrough for the clean energy transition from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy. However, several key challenges limit their application. These challenges include scalability as well as the refractory nature of the protonic ceramics and their limited chemical stability, among others. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Ceracells project aims to make protonic ceramic fuel and electrolysis cells more practical and affordable. It will develop a faster production process that can create the cells in minutes instead of hours, while also improving their durability. Overall, the project hopes to support the large-scale deployment of cleaner and more reliable energy technologies.
Objective
Protonic ceramic fuel and electrolysis cells (PCFC/PCEC) are an emerging and attractive technology which can facilitate the transition from fossil fuels to low carbon, and secure energy supplies. However, there remain distinct barriers to their widespread practical applications. The challenges concern the refractory nature of the protonic ceramics, the limited chemical stability, and scalability. Further complexity is added from the established co-sintering process of the electrode and electrolyte using conventional sintering with a slow temperature ramp up and prolonged dwell time of several hours at high temperatures, typically resulting in cross diffusion, formation of secondary phase in the electrolyte and consequently performance degradation. Herein, to overcome these longstanding challenges, we aim at opening a new avenue for fabrication of electrolyte-supported protonic ceramic electrochemical cells for intermediate temperature operation (400 – 600 ℃). The proposed methodology exploits the novel technology of Ultrafast High-temperature Sintering (UHS) as the pivotal manufacturing procedure, which enables sintering of such cells in seconds to minutes. Pure BaZr0.8Y0.2O3-δ (BZY20) and 0.5 wt% NiO-added BZY20, both characterized by a high conductivity and chemical stability, are selected for the electrolyte. Novel experimental set-up and procedures are proposed to extensively facilitate the sintering process of protonic ceramic cells to produce structurally dense 30×30 mm2 electrolyte and to enable simultaneous sintering of the two electrodes (NiO-BZY20, and Ba0.5Sr0.5Fe0.8Zn0.2O3-δ). Advanced characterization techniques (Impedance Spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, TEM, and Atomic Probe Tomography) will be utilized to examine the correlations of processing, microstructure and properties. Overall, the procedure offers a transformative, scalable, and all-inclusive approach to extensively facilitate development and deployment of PCFC/PCEC.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
- engineering and technology materials engineering ceramics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
52428 JULICH
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.