Ionics—a key technology for our energy and environmental needs on the rise

Abstract

Ionics is a key technology for storing, converting and using energy efficiently as well as protecting the environment. Major progress has been achieved in recent years in the understanding and development of individual materials components needed for ionic devices. It should be emphasized that only combinations of materials are eventually important and at least four interfaces exist with electronic and ionic junctions. The electrical fields exist over distances in the atomic range. Examples are given of recent successful developments of practically useful solids for lithium and oxide ion conduction in combination with appropriate electrodes. In addition, recent approaches to the design of ionic devices are described, notably the SEA concept for generating voltages in fuel cells and the coloration of single phase electrochromic materials. In order to overcome the tremendous problems in developing wide spread commercial applications, it is necessary to intensify our efforts in fundamental materials research drastically.

XPS characterisation of the interface between anode and electrolyte in a proton conducting solid oxide fuel cell

“…The presence of a BE shift in the thick aged layer is likewise surprising. According to general interface theory, the space charge layer is expected to attenuate to a negligible amount over a distance of approximately twice the Debye length, [5] corresponding to a distance of the order of 1 nm for this type of materials [3] (a similar length is obtained on the basis of the dielectric constant of LaNbO 4 [13] and a charge concentration equal to the doping level). This distance is clearly less than the thickness of the thick PLD layer and no BE shift should be observed.…”

“…[1] A key issue is the electrochemical impedance (overpotential) at the electrodes, which is affected by the electrical and electrocatalytic properties of the materials involved and the formation of reactive layers at the electrode-electrolyte interface. [2,3] In this sense, understanding and engineering the interfaces between the electrode and electrolyte is of crucial importance. XPS is a characterisation technique that enables the study of changes in chemistry as well as in electrostatic potentials of atoms in materials.…”

“…[2,3,5] This electric field will extend into the electrolyte to a depth of typically 0.1-1 nm, [3] influencing the concentration of the charged species in this region. It is thus expected to affect the ionic transport along and across the interface and also change the electrocatalytic properties of the system.…”

Electrical conductivity and chemical stability of perovskite-type BaCe0.8-x Ti x Y0.2O3-δ

“…In addition, electrodes should have high electronic conductivity and excellent catalytic activity for both fuels oxidation and oxygen reduction [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. There have been several reviews published in recent years on fast solid electrolytes and electrodes that describe both basic scientific and application aspects [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Current research has been used primarily to establish a better understanding of materials properties by using the chemical compositionstructure-preparation method-property relationship.…”

ZrO2/DNA-derivated polyion hybrid complex membrane for the determination of hydrogen peroxide in milk

“…Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) with strong oxidizing properties has been extensively used as a bleaching agent, disinfectant, oxidizer, and monopropellant in food, pharmaceutical, clinical, industrial, and environmental analyses, so the detection of H 2 O 2 is very required [1,2]. Various methods, such as electrochemistry, spectrometry, and chemiluminescence, have been developed for the determination of H 2 O 2 [3].…”