Production of Direct Ethanol-Fed Ceramic Fuel Cells Through Additive Manufacturing Techniques for the Transportation Sector

• Grant number: 24/17090-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Manufacturing Processes
• Principal Investigator: Julio Romano Meneghini
• Grantee: Erick Leonardo Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/01177-5 - From fundamental to applied science: new frontiers in fuel cell technologies, AP.SPEC

Abstract

The search for clean and renewable energy sources is crucial to mitigate environmental impacts and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Ceramic fuel cells have the potential to offer an efficient and sustainable solution, while the direct use of ethanol simplifies the supply chain and has the potential to expand the application possibilities of this system. Traditional ceramic fuel cell production involves complex processes, often restricted to conventional geometries and material limitations. Furthermore, the literature highlights other challenges during the production process that are crucial for the performance and durability of ceramic fuel cells, such as controlled sintering, ensuring adequate ionic and electronic conductivity, as well as the mechanical resistance of the system. Additive manufacturing, on the other hand, allows layer-by-layer manufacturing, providing design freedom and enabling the creation of intricate structures with specific geometries, optimized for fuel cell performance and difficult to achieve by conventional methods. The research plan proposed here covers the development of ceramic fuel cells powered directly by ethanol using additive manufacturing technology. The project encompasses several stages, from the selection of materials to the performance evaluation of the cells produced, and has an estimated duration of 24 months.