Sustainable Energy Research Group

Fuel Cells  are electrochemical devices that produce electricity from the chemical energy of a fuel. Similar in operation to a battery, they do not go flat or need recharging. as long as they are supplied with fuel and oxidant (usually air).  There are several different types of fuel cell and the University of Queensland is involved in a number of  projects on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuels,  Solid Oxide (SOFC) and Molten Carbonate (MCFC) fuel cells.  Variants of these types are also under investigation, namely the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) and the Direct Carbon (DCFC).

PEM fuel cells have been investigated in conjunction with the Australian National University and other collaborators.  In conjunction with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials, we have developed new membrane materials and are currently working on new catalyst materials to improve the performance of the fuel cells.

SOFC research over the past few years has been through a long collaboration with Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd.  Our research has focused on developing an understanding of the interface between electrodes (particularly the anode) and the electrolyte in state-of-the-art SOFC cells and stacks. More recently we have been investigating a new class of fast ionic conducting materials for use as intermediate temperature SOFCs and as gas separation membranes.

MCFC research has been concerned with the development and characterisation of catalyst materials for internal reforming of fuels such as natural gas, in a collaboration wtih the Gas Technology Institute (USA). More recently some work has been carried out at UQ on direct carbon fuel cells, a variant of the more traditional MCFC.

Related to the work on fuel cells is that of fuel processing, particularly the catalytic steam reforming of hydrocarbon fuels. Some of this work has also been in collaboration with CFCL and the Gas Technology Institute.

All of the work on fuel cells by SERG is being carried out within the Division of Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland.  A new laboratory specifically for the work on SOFC an PEM fuel cell research is due to be opened in 2009.