The kinetics of surface exchange reactions in oxide based mixed conductors at reducing conditions and high temperatures.

The development of cost-effective solid oxide fuel cells and dense ceramic membrane-based reactor and separation technologies is of considerable interest for application in advanced natural gas-based power production and hydrogen production. Common for al l these technologies is the need for oxide materials either as membrane materials or anodes stable under reducing conditions. To replace the state of the art cermet anodes with pure oxide materials is of particular interest. The present project aims to i nvestigate the transport properties of pure anode materials stable under reducing conditions and high temperatures. Particular focus will be on surface exchange kinetics in H2/H2O and CO/CO2 gas mixtures and also bulk diffusion. The overall objective is t o develop stable oxide based compounds with both fast surface exchange and fast bulk diffusion properties at high temperatures and reducing conditions.