Fuel Cell 'Cube' Creates Electricity for $1 Per Watt

Nov-05-13 By improving the ceramic materials of solid-oxide fuel cells, an innovator has created a fuel-cell device able to run on natural gas and produce electricity at $1 per watt—$7 per watt less than current designs.

Developed by Eric Wachsman, the fuel cell runs at a much lower temperature than conventional fuel cells—which makes it less expensive and less likely to malfunction. This was accomplished by basing the fuel cell on cerium oxide and bismuth oxide, which are much more electrically conductive than the materials used in current versions. The cell operates at 650 °C (current products operate much higher, at 900 °C) which reduces the stress on the cell as well as the need for insulation.

The product is in development by the startup Redox Power Systems, who hope to launch it in 2014.

More Info about this Invention:

[TECHNOLOGYREVIEW.COM]
[REDOX POWER SYSTEMS]

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