Proton Conducting Ceramics

This book proposes a wide overview of the research and development of proton-conducting solid oxide materials. It is the first to approach the topic on proton-conducting ceramics and presents analysis studies from the fundamental to the most promising applied domains. It describes theoretical studies to enhance understanding of proton-transport mechanisms through materials and focuses on the main families of materials referred in the literature, highlighting their structure and their electrical and physicochemical properties. It lists the various routes of synthesis and processing methods used to develop such materials and deals with their main performances and prospects with respect to electromotive force, electrochemical hydrogen transport, and reactors. The book will be helpful for students from academic sciences as well as industrials dealing with applications of such materials.

Ceramic fuel cells, commonly known as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), have been under development for a broad range of electric power generation applications. The most attractive feature of the SOFC is its clean and efficient production of electricity from a variety of fuels. The SOFC has the potential to be manufactured and operated cost-effectively. The widening interest in this technology, thus, arises from the continuing need to develop cleaner and more efficient means of converting energy sources into useful forms. This topical book provides a comprehensive treatise on solid oxide fuel cells and succeeds successfully in filling the gap in the market for a reference book in this field. Directed towards scientists, engineers, and technical managers working with SOFCs as well as ceramic devices based on conducting materials, and in related fields, the book will also be invaluable as a textbook for science and engineering courses.

This Special Issue of Crystals contains papers focusing on various properties of conducting ceramics. Multiple aspects of both the research and application of this group of materials have been addressed. Conducting ceramics are the wide group of mostly oxide materials which play crucial roles in various technical applications, especially in the context of the harvesting and storage of energy. Without ion-conducting oxides, such as yttria-stabilized zirconia, doped ceria devices such as solid oxide fuel cells would not exist, not to mention the wide group of other ion conductors which can be applied in batteries or even electrolyzers, besides fuel cells. The works published in this Special Issue tackle experimental results as well as general theoretical trends in the field of ceramic conductors, or electroceramics, as it is often referred to.