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FUNMAT research
activities on
Hydrogen
Contents • Short description of research
fields
• Relevant publications
•
Staff and laboratories
Short description of research fields In a
longer term hydrogen is believed to become the foremost energy carrier. The
major components in the expected “Hydrogen Economy” involve
production, storage, transport, and final use of hydrogen, all of them with
considerable technological challenges. This implies a need for new
technological solutions where fundamental aspects related to the function of
materials, components and systems are in focus.
Research at the intersection between energy and environment is a
prioritized area in Norway. Of particular importance is to further enhance
activities already being at a high international level, involvement in
international networks and active partnership in joint projects with leading
industry, both Norwegian and international. FUNMAT has its focus on materials
that are of utmost importance in the hydrogen-chain; from production, via
storage and end use of hydrogen. Such research has long tradition in Norway
with established links industry. The gravity of activities lies within
materials chemistry, electrochemistry, solid state physics and theory.
The FUNMAT partners are involved in several projects funded by the
Research Council of Norway, EU, the Nordic Energy Research Program, and other
international funding sources.
With respect to excellence and critical mass, FUNMAT will point at
the following fields (web-links will be established to the mentioned
topics):
Hydrogen production from natural gas Environmental-friendly
and sustainable hydrogen production from natural gas is naturally in focus
owing to huge Norwegian gas resources. FUNMAT groups are e.g. involved in
catalyst development for improved synthesis gas production. Reactor types such
as fluidized bed reactor, membrane reactors, short contact type reactors and
more recently heat exchange reactors and microreactors are studied for small
scale production of hydrogen for fuel cell applications.
Membranes for hydrogen separation. Currently, there are
significant activities in the field of microporous ceramic membranes, dense
mixed conducting ceramic membranes and dense Pd-based metallic membranes.
FUNMAT is involved in several European and industry funded projects to develop
such membrane technology. FUNMAT partners are well equipped for preparation
(sputtering, sol-gel), characterisation and testing of membranes. Testing can
be done up to high temperatures and high pressures relevant in hydrocarbon
reforming and water gas shift reactions.
Hydrogen production by plasma cracking of hydrocarbons A new
plasma process developed by Kværner Oil and Gas and SINTEF Materials
Technology provides carbon black and hydrogen (CB and H2) from hydrocarbons
with no emissions. The new plant in Canada, Karbomont, is the first using
high-temperature plasma technology to produce CB and H2. Core technology is a
high temperature reactor in which the plasma torch (developed and patented by
SINTEF) provides energy to decompose hydrocarbons directly into carbon and
hydrogen. All types of gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons, from gas to heavy oils,
can be used.
Materials for hydrogen storage. The research and competence in
FUNMAT cover hydrogen storage in intermetallic metal hydrides, complex hydrides
(alanates etc), inorganic-organic hybrid materials and carbon-based materials
(incl. nanotubes and carbon nanofibers), as well as studies of the importance
of nanostructuring and catalysts for hydrogenation. The partners have strong
activities on syntheses of new materials (arc melting, induction melting, rapid
solidification, ball milling techniques and hydrogenation) and
characterization. All standard methods for surface and thermodynamically
characterization are available, including PCT
(Pressure-Composition-Temperature) and desorption spectroscopy. High-resolution
powder neutron diffraction at the Norwegian Kjeller reactor (PUS-instrument)
gives unique possibilities for structure determination of materials for
hydrogen storage and in-situ studies of adsorption/ desorption processes. In
addition, state-of-the art X-ray diffraction, excellent access to
high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction at the Swiss-Norwegian Beam Lines at
ESRF and state-of-the art TEM and SEM instruments for electron
diffraction/microscopy provides quality and strength within structural
characterization. Temperature, pressure, atmosphere (e.g. hydrogen) can be
varied in the diffraction experiments.
Hydride batteries With basis in competence in hydrogen
storage (see above) and electrochemistry, activities aim at developing improved
alloys for metal hydride batteries and hydride electrodes. Alloys are prepared
by rapid solidification, arc melting or induction melting techniques. There is
high competence in impedance characterization and modeling of hydriding/
dehydriding in porous electrode systems.
Materials for PEM technology The FUNMAT partners have
competence in both PEM technology for water electrolysis and fuel cells. For
hydrogen production the highly effective electrode catalysts based on Pt
(cathode) and mixed Ir/Ru-oxides for the anode are of particular interest. The
PEM Fuel Cell work is focused around fundamental electrochemical studies
(electro-catalysis, electrode optimization) and also surface treatments and new
membrane materials are being tested. Mathematical modeling based on
conventional electrochemical theory, irreversible thermodynamics and fluid
dynamics supports the experiments.
Materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) Proton
conducting oxide materials are intermediate temperature proton conductors with
potential applications in fuel cells. High expertise in defect chemistry and
studies of transport phenomena combines in FUNMAT with activities searching for
novel, improved materials. In addition FUNMAT has expertise in electrochemical
characterisation of electrode materials, determination of kinetics and
mechanisms of the electrode processes and measurements of oxygen transport
properties.
Theory and modelling is done on many levels, from quantum
physics and chemistry, via understanding of electronic phenomena to ionic
transport and macroscopic behaviour of materials. FUNMAT has strong activities
in modelling of solid materials using Density Functional Band Structure Methods
(DFT). This approach is used to understand the bonding in materials for
hydrogen storage and the absorption process of hydrogen through metal surfaces.
Relevant publications
Hydrogen production. • Å. Slagtern, Y. Schuurman,
C. Leclerq, X. Verykios and C. Mirodatos: CH4 reforming by CO2 over Ni/La2O3.
J. Catal. 172 (1997) 118-126
• Å. Slagtern, U. Olsbye, R.
Blom, I. M. Dahl and H. Fjellvåg: In situ XRD characterization studies of
La-Ni-Al-O model catalyst for CO2 reforming of methane. Applied Catalysis A:
General 145 (1996) 375-388.
• S. S. Voutetakis, G. J.
Tjatjopoulos, I. A. Vasalos and U. Olsbye: Catalytic Partial Oxidation of
Methane in a Spouted Bed Reactor. Design of a Pilot Plant Unit and Optimization
of Operating Conditions. Stud. Surf. Sci. Cat., 119, (1998), 807-812.
Membranes for hydrogen separation • Rune Bredesen and
Jostein Sogge, "A Technical and Economic Assessment of Membrane Reactors for
Hydrogen and Syngas Production". Paper presented at the United Nation Seminar
on the Ecological Applications of Innovative Membrane Technology in the
Chemical Industry. Ref. UN Economic Commission for Europe, CHEM/SEM.21/R.12, 13
March 1996, May 1-4, 1996, Cetraro, Italy. 25 pages.
• Rune
Bredesen. “Key points in the development of catalytic membrane
reactors”. In Proceedings of the 13th International Congress of Chemical
and Process Engineering (CHISA’98), CD-ROM of full texts, paper A7.0, 23
pages. Organised by Czech Society of Chemical Engineering, August 23-28, 1998,
Praha, Czech Republic
• Rune Bredesen and Hallgeir Klette. Method
of manufacturing thin metal membranes. United State Patent 6,086,729 (July 11,
2000)
• Arian Nijmeijer, Henk Kruidhof, Rune Bredesen and Henk
Verweij. ”Preparation and properties of hydrothermally stable ?-alumina
membranes”. J. Am Ceram. Soc. 84 ?1? (2001) 136-140.
• T.
Norby, Y. Larring, "Mixed hydrogen ion - electron conductors for hydrogen
permeable membranes", Solid State Ionics, 136-137 (2000) 139-48.
Materials for hydrogen storage. • M.H. Sørby, H.
Fjellvåg, B.C. Hauback, A.J. Maeland, V.A. Yartys: Crystal structure of
Th2Al deuterides. J. Alloys and Compounds (2000) 309, 154-164.
•
V.A. Yartys, R.V. Denys, B.C. Hauback, H. Fjellvåg, I.I. Bulyk, A.B.
Riabov, Y.M. Kalychak: Short hydrogen-hydrogen coupling in novel intermetallic
hydrides, RE3Ni3In3D4 (RE = La, Ce and Nd). J. Alloys and Compounds (2002)
330-332, 132-140.
• H.W. Brinks, V.A. Yartys, B.C. Hauback, H.
Fjellvåg: Structure and magnetic properties of TbNiAl-based deuterides.
J. Alloys and Compounds (2002) 330-332, 169-174.
• B.C. Hauback,
H.W. Brinks, H. Fjellvåg: Accurate structure of LiAlD4 studied by
combined powder neutron and X-ray diffraction. In press J. Alloys and Compounds
(2002).
Hydride batteries • L.O. Valøen, R. Tunold: The
Electrochemical Impedance of Metal Hydride Electrodes. J. Alloys and Compounds
(2002) 330-332, 810-815.
• L.O. Valøen, R. Brateng, R.
Tunold: Kinetics of Metal Hydride Electrodes when Increasing the Internal Cell
Pressure. J. Alloys and Compounds (2002) 330-332, 502-505.
• V.A.
Yartys, T. Olavesen, B.C. Hauback, H. Fjellvåg, H.W. Brinks, H.W.:
Hexagonal LaNiSnD2 with filled ZrBeSi-type structure. J. Alloys and Compounds
(2002) 330-332, 141-145.
Materials for PEM technology • B. Børresen, G.
Hagen, R. Tunold: Hydrogen evolution on RuxTi1-xO2 in 0.5 M H2SO4
Electrochimica Acta, (2002) 47, 1819-1827
• S. Kjelstrup, P.J.S.
Vie, D. Bedeaux: Surface Chemistry and electrochemistry of membranes, In:
Irreversible thermodynamics of membrane surface transport with application to
polymer fuel cells. Marcel Dekker, 1999.
• S.
Møller-Holst: Preparation and Evaluation of Electrodes for Solid Polymer
Fuel Cells. Denki Kagaku (1996) 64(6), 699-705.
• P.J.S. Vie, M.
Paronen, M. Strømgård, E. Rauhala, F. Sundholm,F.: Fuel cell
performance of proton irradiated and subsequently sulfonated poly(vinyl
fluoride) membranes. In press J. Membrane Science (2002).
• D.
Webb, S. Møller-Holst: Measuring individual cell voltages in fuel cell
stacks, Journal of Power Sources (2001) 103, 54-60.
Materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) • P.
Kofstad, R. Bredesen: High Temperature Corrosion in SOFC Environments. Solid
State Ionics (1992) 52, 69-75.
• R.J. Aaberg, R. Tunold, M.
Mogensen, R.W. Berg, R. Odegard: Morphological changes at the interface of the
nickel-yttria stabilized zirconia point electrode. Journal of the
Electrochemical Society (1998) 145, 2244-2252.
• T. Norby and Y.
Larring, "Concentration and transport of protons in oxides", Current Opinion in
Solid State & Materials Science, 2 (1997) 593-99.
• T. Norby,
"Solid State Protonic Conductors - Principles, Properties, Progress, and
Prospects", Solid State Ionics, 125 (1999) 1-11.
• Y. Larring, T.
Norby: "Spinel and perovskite functional layers between Plansee metallic
interconnect (Cr-5wt%Fe-1wt%Y2O3) and ceramic (La0.85Sr0.15)0.91MnO3 cathode
materials for solid oxide fuel cells", J. Electrochem. Soc., 147 (2000)
3251-56.
• T. Norby, "Fast oxygen ion conductors - from doped to
ordered systems", J. Mater. Chem., 11 (2001) 11-18.
• T. Norby,
"The promise of protonics" (News and Views), Nature, 410 (2001) 877 878.
Theory and modeling • O.M. Løvvik, R.A. Olsen:
Density functional calculations on hydrogen in palladium-silver alloys. J.
Alloys and Compounds (2002) 330-332, 332-337.
• O.M.
Løvvik, R.A. Olsen: Adsorption energies and ordered structures of
hydrogen on Pd (111) from density-functional periodic calculations. Phys. Rev.
B (1998) 58, 10890-10898.
• R. Glöckner, M.S. Islam, T.
Norby, "Protons and other defects in BaCeO3 a computational study", Solid State
Ionics, 122 (1999) 145-56.
• Vajestoon, P., Vidya, R., Ravindran,
P., Kjekshus, A. and Fjellvåg, H. ”Electronic structure and bonding
studies on Th2Al and Th2AlH4” Phys. Rev. B 65 (2002)
•
Ravindran, P., Vajestoon, P., Vidya, R., Kjekshus, A. and Fjellvåg, H.,
”Violation of the 2Å rule for metal hydrides” Phys. Rev. Lett.
submitted
Staff and laboratories
Permanent staff (professors, associate professors,
scientists) • Production?
• Materials for hydrogen
storage
• Hydride batteries
• Materials for PEM
technology
• Materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC)
•
Theory and modeling
Post docs • Production?
• Materials for
hydrogen storage
• Hydride batteries
• Materials for PEM
technology
• Materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC)
•
Theory and modeling
PhD-students • Production?
• Materials for
hydrogen storage
• Hydride batteries
• Materials for PEM
technology
• Materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC)
•
Theory and modeling
In addition to foreign guest scientists and
master-students
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