Prof. Meilin Liu
School of Materials Science & Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Title: Recent Advances in Solid Oxide Cells for Co-generation of Electricity and Green Hydrogen
Abstract:
Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are electrochemical
cells that can be run reversibly in two directions: they can be used as an
electrolyzer to produce green hydrogen (or other cleaner chemical fuels) when ‘extra’ electricity is available from
wind or solar cells. When electricity is needed (e.g., during night), they can
be run as a fuel cell to convert hydrogen to electricity. Since SOCs are highly
efficient, they are ideally suited for cost-effective co-generation
of electricity and green hydrogen. However, commercialization of SOC technology is
hindered by the lack of advanced materials with desirable properties for reversible
dual-mode operation. This
presentation will highlight the critical scientific challenges facing the
development of electrolyte, electrode, and catalyst materials for SOCs, the
strategies for enhancing electrical conductivity, electro-catalytic activity,
and durability of these materials, and our recent progress in the development of new materials and in probing the
mechanism of electrode reactions
using a combination of theoretical and experimental techniques. For example,
the introduction of proper dopants and careful engineering of defect chemistry
have resulted in a new class of electrolyte and electrode materials that not
only show better chemical stability but also have much improved ionic
conductivity and catalytic activity. Furthermore, single cells based on these
new materials achieve very high performance and durability in both the fuel
cell and the electrolysis mode. Also, it will be demonstrated that in situ/operando characterization of materials under typical operating conditions is imperative to
gaining insight into rational design of new materials.
Biography:
Meilin Liu is the Hightower
Chair and Regents' Professor of the School of Materials Science and Engineering
at Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia. He received his BS from South China University of
Technology and both MS and PhD from the University of California at Berkeley.
His research interests include design, fabrication, in situ/ operando characterization, and simulation of membranes,
thin films, and
nanostructured electrodes in devices for energy storage and conversion, aiming
at achieving rational design of materials and structures with unique
functionalities.
He holds 31 U.S. patents, co-organized 11 international symposia and workshops,
co-edited 7 proceedings volumes, delivered ~200 plenary, keynote, or invited
lectures, and published ~650 refereed articles. Dr. Liu is a fellow of the International Association of Advanced
Materials (IAAM, 2021), Electrochemical Society (ECS, 2012), and American
Ceramic Society (ACerS, 2011). Professional awards include Highly Cited Researcher (since 2018), the Charles Hatchett Award
(UK IM3, 2018), HTM Outstanding Achievement Award (ECS, 2018), Kolon Faculty
Fellow (2017), Outstanding Faculty Research Author Award (Georgia Tech, 2013
and 1997), Ross Coffin Purdy Award (ACerS, 2010), Outstanding Achievement in
Research Program Development Award (Georgia Tech, 2003), Sustained Research
Award (Sigma Xi, 2003), and National Young Investigator Award (NSF, 1993).