Harry L. Tuller
Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Head of the Crystal Physics and Electroceramics Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute Technology
Functional ceramics are playing an increasingly more critical role in energy related devices given their unique electrical, electrochemical, and optical properties, in combination with ability to operate in harsh chemical and thermal environments, at relatively low cost. Key challenges include optimized initial performance and minimized degradation rates. Both objectives are often tied to how internal (e.g. grain boundaries) and external interfaces (e.g. gas/solid) function during device operation. I review recent advances in our laboratory demonstrating extraordinary ability to control and manipulate catalytic activity at rate controlling solid oxide fuel/electrolysis cell electrodes, allowing for both enhanced initial performance and markedly decreased degradation rates [1,2]. I then go on to describe our ability to modulate ionic transport at grain boundaries in polycrystalline solid electrolytes with light & higher energy sources, suggesting options for lowering device operating temperatures and the creation of novel devices [3,4].
Acknowledge support by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction OAice, under awarded grant 22CWDARI00046. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.
[1] C. Nicollet, C. Toparli, G. F. Harrington, T. DeAerriere, B. Yildiz, and Harry L. Tuller, Nature Catalysis 3, 913-920 (2020).
[2] H. G. Seo, A. Staerz, D. S. Kim, D. Klotz, C. Nicollet, M. Xu, J. M. LeBeau, H. L. Tuller, Energy and Environ.Sci. 15, 4038-4047 (2022)
[3] T. DeAerriere, D. Klotz, J. C. Gonzalez-Rosillo, J. L. M. Rupp, and H. L. Tuller, Nat. Mater. 21, 438-444 (2022).
[4] T. DeAerriere, A. S. H. A.Elwakeil, J. Rupp, J. Li and H.L. Tuller, Adv. Mater., 2309253 (2024).
