DESC0022769
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Advanced manufacturing of solid oxide electrodes using ALD.
Awardee
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding Agency
Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Watertown,
Massachusetts
02472
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 03/26/23 to 08/27/25 and the total obligations have increased 660% from $249,993 to $1,899,581.
Radiation Monitoring Devices was awarded
Project Grant DESC0022769
worth $1,899,581
from the Office of Science in June 2022 with work to be completed primarily in Watertown Massachusetts United States.
The grant
has a duration of 3 years 2 months and
was awarded through assistance program 81.049 Office of Science Financial Assistance Program.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity FY 2022 SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 2.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
Advanced Manufacturing of Solid Oxide Electrodes Using ALD
Abstract
Statement of Problem or Situation that is Being Addressed: The degradation of the hydrogen fuel electrode in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) during high-steam conditions severely limits the large-scale SOEC commercial viability. Nickel migration in the fuel electrode due to long term operation at high overpotential reduces the amount of triple phase boundaries (TPBs), resulting in irreversible loss of electrochemical performance. This is a critical issue that needs to be resolved in order to facilitate the wide-spread adoption of SOECs, which offers an unrivaled conversion efficiency of ~90%. Statement of How Problem or Situation is Being Addressed: RMD Inc. will address this challenge with the Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) of novel anchoring layer within the porous hydrogen fuel electrode that will prevent the nickel migration. This approach will not only enhance the SOEC electrode lifetime but will also maintain the overall density of the TPBs from changing. An ALD method is uniquely capable of forming thin anchoring layer while being porous to maintain access by steam to the TPB for electrolysis of occur. What is to be done in Phase I? RMD Inc. will deposit at fuel electrode scaffolds in button cells (provide by UPenn), will validate the performance of coated fuel electrode compared to bare through representative electrolysis testing in high steam conditions at 700ºC (at UPenn), and will evaluate and create a plan of process integration for manufacturing scale-up. The resulting data will demonstrate feasibility of the proposed approach. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The proposed development of the chemical anchor for the fuel electrode in SOECs will improve the long-term stability of SOECs, providing an efficient method of storing the excess energy from various low-cost and renewable electricity sources as hydrogen fuel, as well as the reverse in fuel cell mode to produce energy from chemical fuels. Additionally, SOECs can be utilized to generate oxygen for life support in the US manned space-flight programs and to generate oxygen from Mars’ atmosphere.
Topic Code
C54-21g
Solicitation Number
None
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 8/12/24
Period of Performance
6/27/22
Start Date
8/27/25
End Date
Funding Split
$1.9M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$1.9M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to DESC0022769
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
DESC0022769
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
892430 SC CHICAGO SERVICE CENTER
Funding Office
892401 SCIENCE
Awardee UEI
SCKQA85YU4U4
Awardee CAGE
6S098
Performance District
MA-05
Senators
Edward Markey
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren
Budget Funding
Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Science, Energy Programs, Energy (089-0222) | General science and basic research | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $1,899,581 | 100% |
Modified: 8/12/24