Smart self-reconstruction of electrode materials for fully recyclable protonic ceramic fuel cells
摘要
Despite their high-energy conversion efficiency that has earned them the label of next-generation energy utilization devices, protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) have not yet fully fulfilled their potential in terms of low-cost integration and environmentally friendly application, which remain significant concerns that heavily influence their progress towards commercial viability. A pragmatic way of cell recycling is extremely helpful for addressing these concerns. Herein, we unveil a novel concept of reusable PCFCs, and propose a comprehensive recycling scheme for discarded PCFCs. In this research, a recycled cell with a recycled single perovskite cathode exhibited a peak power density (PPD) of 1.10 W cm−2 at 700 °C, comparable to a pristine cell of 1.05 W cm−2. Metal ion rearrangement and phase evolution during the recycling processes were investigated, which were demonstrated to be in high relevance to the performance of recycled cells. This research constitutes a pioneering exploration of the mechanisms underlying recycling efforts and offers valuable insights into the material recycling of solid-state functional devices used for energy conversion and storage.
Graphical abstract