Fused zirconia: a solid performer in fuel cells

摘要

A FUEL CELL is a device which chemically oxidises its fuel. This is usually hydrogen from hydrocarbons that have been reprocessed into hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the absence of a flame, generating heat and electricity. The fuel cell utilises this fuel more efficiently than conventional combustion. There are several types of fuel cell in development today, broadly categorised into low, medium and high temperature cells. Low temperature cells include proton exchange membranes (PEM) operating in the range 50-1 00 deg C, and alkaline fuel cells which operate in the range 50-100 deg C.