A Study of the Conductive Properties of Nanostructured Metal Oxide Films

ISBN-13: 9783639034059 / Angielski / Miękka / 2008 / 344 str.

Andr D'Olembert

Opis

Fuel cells which were first employed in spacecraft, are part of the ongoing pursuit for renewable energy sources, and environmentally compatible electric power generation. Recent enhancements in design and materials might establish fuel cells in a sustainable hydrogen energy economy (SHEE) as viable alternatives to the internal combustion engine. This study investigates the conductive properties of metal-oxide thin films by developing a new deposition technique called dual channel ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (DC-USP). The DC-USP process has proved to be a reliable and cost-effective method to fabricate thin films. We have then created a novel mixed ionic electronic conductor (MIEC) composed of two metal-oxides: lanthanum strontium ferrite and copper-doped bismuth vanadate (LSF.40:BiCuVOx.10). This composite material can contribute to solve the major outstanding problem of the three-phase boundary (TPB) that limits the oxygen reduction reaction to within a microscopic region near the cathode-electrolyte interface in the SOFC device. Results show that at a temperature of 550 C, the average bulk resistivity for LSF.40:BiCuVOx.10 films was 2.08 ohm-cm (a conductivity of 0.48 S/cm).

O autorze

d'OLEMBERT, André André A. d'Olembert was born on January 12, 1963 in Iguatu, State of Ceará, Brazil. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in 2005 from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, for his work on conductive properties of nanostructured metal oxide films. Further to his M.Sc.E work on Power System Reliability at the University of New Brunswick (1990), he joined SNC-Lavalin Inc.(1990-92) and then worked for Toronto Hydro (SPUC) carrying out detailed electric system studies, writing electric equipment specifications to improve the electrical system standards. An Electrical Engineer with over 10 years of responsibilities in planning, operation and design of electrical Distribution systems. Most recently he has been a professor of mathematics and multimedia at Collège Boréal in Toronto.