Theoretical underpinnings of a method of reduction of operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells under resonant light irradiation

• We model the low temperature proton hopping in oxides.
• The phonon assistance can enhance the proton hopping rate.
• We justify the possibility for adopting ultrashort lasers in fuel cell technology.

This study examines potential benefits of adopting ultrashort optical pulses in fuel cell technology. General principles for jumping migration of protons in resonant laser fields have been elaborated. We find that, depending upon the frequency of phonon assistance, the effective activation energy for migration can be strongly diminished when excitation pulses are used. The obtained results indicate that at room temperature the picosecond-laser-induced proton transfer in rutile type oxides is much faster than that for thermal activation. Our estimates are in good agreement with time-resolved measurements for rutile samples excited by infrared light. The fundamentals of this transfer process are briefly analyzed in the light of structure diffusion and vibrational mode models. The most important conclusion to emerge from our work is that the use of the optical stimulation shows considerable promise as a means for decreasing the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells based on proton hopping transport.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide