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Significant success for FORTH/ICE-HT: The funding by the European Commission of four research projects on fuel cells and hydrogen production

An important European distinction for the Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas  (FORTH/ICE-HT) is the recent funding by the European Commission of four (4) research project proposals in the area of fuel cells and hydrogen production that focuses the research of the large team of researchers of ICE-HT.

These research projects with a total grant of 6,368,606 Euros started in January 2010 and are as follows:

• “Understanding and minimizing anode degradation in hydrogen and natural gas fuelled SOFCs (ROBANODE)” (Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Symeon Bebelis)
• “Understanding the Degradation Mechanisms of Membrane-Electrode-Assembly for High Temperature PEMFCs and Optimization of the Individual Components (DEMMEA)” (Coordination: ADVENT Technologies SA, P.I. (FORTH): Prof. Yannis Kallitsis)
• “Development of an Internal Reforming Alcohol High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Stack (IRAFC)” (Coordination: ADVENT Technologies SA, P.I. (FORTH): Dr. Theophilos Ioannides)
• “Sustainable Hydrogen Generation (SUSHGEN)” (P.I. (FORTH): Dr. Stylianos Neophytides)

Organizations from Greece, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France, Czech Republic, Poland, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Norway and Bulgaria participate in the above programs.

Fuel cells are devices for the electrochemical conversion of energy, converting hydrogen and oxygen into water and simultaneously producing electricity (direct current) and heat. They are divided into several categories depending on the materials used as electrolytes. Solid electrolyte fuel cells (SOFC) and polymer membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are considered the most suitable for commercial exploitation.

High Temperature Polymer Membrane Fuel Cell (HTPEMFC)

The most important contribution of ICE-HT to polymer membrane fuel cell technology is based on the development of a new polymer electrolyte that works at high temperatures (about 200^oC) and under high concentration of carbon monoxide (up to 2%) and has a very stable structure even under strongly oxidizing conditions. This material was incorporated into a Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) and is currently one of two state-of-the-art devices operating at high temperatures worldwide. Based on this new technology, in 2005, the spin-off company ADVENT Technologies SA was founded with the participation of ICE-HT, which optimized the arrangement into a product, which is now commercially available. The object of the research projects is to improve the properties of the polymeric membrane so that it has good mechanical properties, chemical, thermal and oxidative stability, high ionic conductivity, electronic insulation and low cost. The interdisciplinary collaboration aims at the electrochemical study of MEAs (membrane/electrolyte combination with the electrodes) of high temperature for the construction of both unit cells and arrays (Fuel Cell Stacks) and the study of the behavior and performance of the cells/arrays.

Solid Electrolyte Fuel Cell (SOFC)

ICE-HT research group has been active in solid electrolyte fuel cell research since the institute was founded in 1984. One of the most important contributions of the ICE-HT research group is the development of nickel-based anode electrodes, which are highly resistant to carbon, so that internal reforming of methane or natural gas with steam can be carried out directly at the anode. The aim of the research projects is the development of new electrolytes and catalysts/electrodes for their application in solid electrolyte fuel cells, which operate in the temperature range 600 – 850°C and are resistant to carbon (soot) deposition and the presence of hydrogen sulphide.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Stelios Neophytides
Director of Research FORTH/ICE-HT
Tel.: +30 2610 965 265, Fax: +30 2610 965 223