Power and Energy Commons^™

Evaluation Of Cathode Materials For Low Temperature (500-700c) Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Alexander M. Lassman

Master's Theses

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) have gained a great deal of interest, due to their potential for high efficiency power generation and ability to utilize hydrogen fuel, as well as various hydrocarbon-based fuels. A recent trend in SOFC development has been towards lower operating temperatures (500-700°C), which can substantially reduce the cost and complexity of the system. This thesis presents an investigation into state of the art Ba- and La- based cathode materials for use in low temperature (500-700°C) solid oxide fuel cells.

Synthesis of A-site deficient [A=0.97] Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O₃ (BSCF) was …

Morphology Changes In Pcpdtbt:Pcbm And P3ht:Pcpdtbt:Pcbm And Its Effect On Polymer Solar Cell Performance, Galen David Cauble

Physics

Polymer solar cell morphology is sensitive to both heat and time. By thermally annealing polymer solar cells the morphology of the devices can be altered causing immediate changes in device performance. Blending PCPDTBT:PCBM with P3HT:PCPDTBT combines the absorption characteristics of each to create a more even absorption spectrum. Subjecting PCPDTBT:PCBM, and P3HT:PCPDTBT:PCBM polymer solar cells to thermal annealing as well as recording device performance through time has shown that P3HT:PCPDTBT:PCBM devices react positively to thermal annealing (increasing from 0.8% to 1.4%) while PCPDTBT:PCBM devices have varied reactions. Furthermore, the P3HT:PCPDTBT:PCBM devices have achieved efficiencies of 1.6% in AM 1.5 compared …