Functional Oxide Discovery using Combinatorial Methods
Imperial College - Research Interests
Over the last two decades the research group of Prof. John Kilner in the department of materials of Imperial College has gained extensive experience in the field of oxygen ion conductors. These ceramic oxides have been applied as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), oxygen pumps/sensors and other high temperature electrochemical devices.
For intermediate temperature SOFCs two oxide structures are providing the largest potential for novel electrode/electrolyte system. These are the perovskite oxides, whose stoichiometry is ABO3, and the perovskite related materials, for example the Ruddlesdon-Popper phases such as A2BO4.
All these oxides can be either ionic or mixed ionic-electronic conductors and much previous work has been done. However, because conventional methods of synthesis have been used, progress in the identification of new materials has been slow.
Through the application of combinatorial methods to the processing of these materials the FOXD project is helping Imperial College maintain its lead in the search and analysis of oxygen ion ceramic conductors. Via this high throughput screening technique a much wider range of oxide compositions cab be fabricated in a much shorter timeframe. Searching and identifying useful oxide compositions for practical applications will, therefore, become a much more cost and time effective process.
Over the last two decades the research group of Prof. John Kilner in the department of materials of Imperial College has gained extensive experience in the field of oxygen ion conductors. These ceramic oxides have been applied as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), oxygen pumps/sensors and other high temperature electrochemical devices.
For intermediate temperature SOFCs two oxide structures are providing the largest potential for novel electrode/electrolyte system. These are the perovskite oxides, whose stoichiometry is ABO3, and the perovskite related materials, for example the Ruddlesdon-Popper phases such as A2BO4.
All these oxides can be either ionic or mixed ionic-electronic conductors and much previous work has been done. However, because conventional methods of synthesis have been used, progress in the identification of new materials has been slow.
Through the application of combinatorial methods to the processing of these materials the FOXD project is helping Imperial College maintain its lead in the search and analysis of oxygen ion ceramic conductors. Via this high throughput screening technique a much wider range of oxide compositions cab be fabricated in a much shorter timeframe. Searching and identifying useful oxide compositions for practical applications will, therefore, become a much more cost and time effective process.