Scaffold Infiltrated Cathodes for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

Lowering the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and electrolysis cells (SOECs) to reduce system cost and increase lifetime is the key to widely deploy this highly efficient energy technology, but the high cathode polarization losses at low temperatures limit overall cell performance. Here we demonstrate that by engineering a universal ceria-based scaffold with infiltrated nanoscale electrocatalysts, a low cathode polarization <0.25 Ω·cm with remarkably high performance 1 W/cm at 550 °C is achieved.

A Redox-Robust Ceramic Anode-Supported Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell.

A critical factor hampering the deployment of fuel-flexible, low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) is the long-term stability of the electrode in different gas environments. Specifically, for state-of-the-art Ni-cermet anodes, reduction/oxidation (redox) cycles during fuel-rich and fuel-starved conditions cause a huge volume change, eventually leading to cell failure. Here, we report a robust redox-stable SrFeCoMoO (SFCM)/CeGdO ceramic anode-supported LT-SOFC with high performance and remarkable redox stability.

Highly Performing Chromate-Based Ceramic Anodes (YCaCrCu O) for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

Exploitation of alternative anode materials for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs, 350-650 °C) is technologically important but remains a major challenge. Here we report a potential ceramic anode YCaCrCu O ( x = 0, 0.05, 0.

Nanointegrated, High-Performing Cobalt-Free Bismuth-Based Composite Cathode for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

Cost-effective cathodes that actively catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are one of the major challenges for the technological advancement of low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs). In particular, cobalt has been an essential element in electrocatalysts for efficiently catalyzing the ORR; nevertheless, the cost, safety, and stability issues of cobalt in cathode materials remain a severe drawback for SOFC development. Here, we demonstrated that by appropriate nanoengineering, we can overcome the inherent electrocatalytic advantages of cobalt-based cathodes to achieve comparable performance with a cobalt-free electrocatalyst on a bismuth-based fast oxygen ion-conducting scaffold that simultaneously enhances the performance and stability of LT-SOFCs.

The watt or Kibble balance: a technique for implementing the new SI definition of the unit of mass.

The redefinition of the SI unit of mass in terms of a fixed value of the Planck constant has been made possible by the Kibble balance, previously known as the watt balance. Once the new definition has been adopted, the Kibble balance technique will permit the realisation of the mass unit over a range from milligrams to kilograms. We describe the theory underlying the Kibble balance and practical techniques required to construct such an instrument to relate a macroscopic physical mass to the Planck constant with an uncertainty, which is achievable at present, in the region of 2 parts in 10.

Is psychological distress in people living with cancer related to the fact of diagnosis, current treatment or level of disability? Findings from a large Australian study.

Objective: To investigate whether the observed elevated levels of psychological distress in cancer survivors relate specifically to aspects of cancer diagnosis, to treatment or to disability.

Design, Participants And Setting: Self-reported questionnaire data on demographic, health and lifestyle factors and mental health from 89574 Australian men and women aged 45 years or older, sampled from the Medicare database for the 45 and Up Study from 1 February 2006 to 30 April 2008. Logistic regression was used to examine the risk of high levels of psychological distress in relation to cancer diagnosis and disability, adjusting for age, sex, income and education.