More efficient fuel cells under developement by engineers
Wednesday, July 9, 2014 - 18:31
in Physics & Chemistry
Solar panels need sun. Wind turbines need wind. Society needs ways to store and dispense alternative energy. Fuel cells could do this. But their chemical reactions are not fully understood. Researchers have studied a high-efficiency solid-oxide fuel cell. They took atomic-scale 'snapshots' of the conversion process using a synchrotron. Learning why the cell worked well (its atomic defects explain its electrical efficiency) will lead to even better fuel cells -- and make alternative energy systems more practical.