Polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is the most promising technology for sustainable hydrogen production. However, it has been too expensive to compete with current state-of-the-art technologies due to the...

The Dual Membrane Cell (DM-Cell) is an innovative concept for solid state fuel cells operating in the temperature range 600-700 • C. It is based on a junction between the cathode/electrolyte part of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and the anode/electrolyte part of a protonic SOFC (PCFC) via a mixed H + and O 2− conducting porous ceramic membrane, named Dual Membrane (DM). This Dual Membrane is the key feature of the DM-Cell architecture and constitutes a third independent gas compartment for water formation and evacuation. This innovation is expected to reduce the drawbacks associated to the presence of water at one or the other electrodes taking place in conventional SOFC and PCFC. The proof of the DM-Cell concept was obtained by several dedicated experiments, i.e. through the electrical characterization of complete cells in a three-compartments rig, specifically designed to detect water vapor formation in the DM compartment. The paper reports the proof of the concept of the DM-Cell through a set of electrochemical results performed on thick model cells. The applicability of a potentially industrial shaping process to this new design is demonstrated on plasma sprayed metal supported complete dual membrane cell.

This paper presents results for the conductivity of BaCe0.85Y0.15O2-δ (BCY15) measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in wet hydrogen and in Air, as well as test results from the application of the material in a new dual membrane fuel cell configuration (“IDEAL Cell”), in which the water is produced and evacuated through a separate chamber. The conductivity of dense BCY15 in wet hydrogen atmosphere at 700 °C is 2.0 10-2 S/cm. The measured values in air are of the same order. Preliminary tests of the material in the new cell design, where the three types of conductivity (protonic, oxide ion and mixed) are used in different cell compartments, are successfully performed.

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