The increasing world population and the need to improve quality of life for a large percentage of human beings are the driving forces for the search for sustainable energy production systems, alternative to fossil fuel combustion. Among the various types of alternative energy production technologies, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating at intermediate temperatures (400–700 °C) show the advantage of possible use both for stationary and mobile energy production. To reach the goal of reducing the SOFC operating temperature, proton-conducting oxides are gaining wide interest as electrolyte materials. This critical review provides a broad overview of the most recent progresses obtained tailoring the properties of proton-conducting oxides for fuel cell applications, analyzing and comparing the different strategies proposed to match high-proton conductivity with good chemical stability (170 references).

Materials challenges toward proton-conducting oxide fuel cells: a critical review

Combustion of appropriate precursor sprays in a flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) process is a highly promising and versatile technique for the rapid and scalable synthesis of nanostuctural materials with engineered functionalities. The technique was initially derived from the fundamentals of the well-established vapour-fed flame aerosols reactors that was widely practised for the manufacturing of simple commodity powders such as pigmentary titania, fumed silica, alumina, and even optical fibers. In the last 10 years however, FSP knowledge and technology was developed substantially and a wide range of new and complex products have been synthesised, attracting major industries in a diverse field of applications. Key innovations in FSP reactor engineering and precursor chemistry have enabled flexible designs of nanostructured loosely-agglomerated powders and particulate films of pure or mixed oxides and even pure metals and alloys. Unique material morphologies such as core–shell structures and nanorods are possible using this essentially one step and continuous FSP process. Finally, research challenges are discussed and an outlook on the next generation of engineered combustion-made materials is given.

Flame spray pyrolysis: An enabling technology for nanoparticles design and fabrication

In early spring 1996 our handbook on science and technology of catalysis will be completed. In order to give all scientists working in the fields of kinetics and homogenous or heterogenous catalysis the possibility to have this detailed treatise of the topic on his or her shelf we decided to offer the whole handbook as a set for a reduced price.

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Catalysis science and technology

Review on microfabricated micro-solid oxide fuel cell membranes

Introduction.-Solution Chemistry Simple alkoxide based precursor systems Carboxylate based precursor systems Single-source precursors Acqueos Precursor Systems Solution Synthesis Strategies.-Analytical Methods Introduction Thermal Analysis NMR Sepctroscopy EXAFS Other Methods (XRM, SEM,TEM scattering methods at nanocrystalline films) Spin-Coating Dip Coating Inkjet Printing and Other Direct Writing Methods(dip point and imprint techniques) Chemical Bath Deposition Polymer Assisted Deposition.-Processing and Crystallization Thermodynamics and Heating Processes Material Systems Dominated by Heterogeneous Nucleation Material Systems Dominated by Homogeneous Nucleation Low Temperature Processing Epitaxial Films Powder Assisted Film Fabrication UV-and E-Beam Direct Patterning of Photosensitive CSD Films Template Controlled Growth.-Functions and Applications Introduction Integrated Capacitors Base Metal Electrodes Polar Oxide Films for MEMS Applications Conducting Films and Electrodes Transparent conducting oxides Superconducting Films Porous Films for Gas Sensors Luminescent Fims.-Appendix Synthesis for Standard material Systems.

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Chemical Solution Deposition of Functional Oxide Thin Films

A micro-solid oxide fuel cell system as battery replacement

Effects of microreactor wall heat conduction on the reforming process of methane

Optimum washcoat thickness of a monolith reactor for syngas production by partial oxidation of methane

The capability of flame-made Rh/Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 nanoparticles catalyzing the production of H2- and CO-rich syngas from butanewas investigated for different Rh loadings (0‐2.0 wt% Rh) and two different ceramicfibers (Al2O3/SiO2 and SiO2) as plugging material in a packed bed reactor for a temperature range from 225 to 750 8C. The main goal of this study was the efficient processing of butane at temperatures between 500 and 600 8C for a micro-intermediate-temperature SOFC system. Our results showed that Rh/Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 nanoparticles offer a very promising material for butane-to-syngas conversion with complete butane conversion and a hydrogen yield of 77% at 600 8C. The catalytic performance of packed beds strongly depended on the use of either Al2O3/SiO2 or SiO2 fiber plugs. This astonishing effect could be attributed to the interplay of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions during the high-temperatures within the reactor. # 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Michael J. Stutz

Papers

A micro-solid oxide fuel cell system as battery replacement

Effects of microreactor wall heat conduction on the reforming process of methane

Optimum washcoat thickness of a monolith reactor for syngas production by partial oxidation of methane

Syngas production from butane using a flame-made Rh/Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 catalyst

Optimization of methane reforming in a microreactor- : effects of catalyst loading and geometry