ONSI Corp. Eltron Research, Inc. is conducting basic research on a group of novel solid-oxide electrolytes that offer advantages for fuel cell applications. These perovskites have distinctive electrical properties, including superconductivity. Similar to a storage battery, a fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of the gas to electrical energy without the combustion needed to operate other generating systems. Several types of fuel cells are being developed by GRI and others. International Fuel Cells Corp. The fuel cell technology advancements used in the units were developed and tested in a cooperative research and development effort led by GRI with cofunding from the U.S. Department of Energy and gas industry participants.
Concepts using molten carbonate and solid electrolytes are at an earlier stage of development.
Each may be found to offer advantages for particular applications. These novel oxides have a crystal structure known as perovskite. Perovskites have the general formula ABO3, where A and B represent metals. They can have distinctive electrical properties, including superconductivity, the ability to conduct hydrogen ions as well as oxygen ions, and to conduct both ions and electrons. They may not require the external reforming of the natural gas and electrolyte management necessary for liquid electrolyte systems.