FuelCellsWorks

Efficient, compact and safe hydrogen storage is essential to realize the hydrogen economy. Especially given that the on-board storage of hydrogen in vehicles poses strict requirements in terms of weight and hydrogen-release properties. Lightweight metal hydrides hold great potential for reversible solid-state hydrogen storage, but no material system has yet been identified that simultaneously meets all of the requirements.

Nanocrystallites offer favourable properties

Several lightweight metal hydrides such as MgH₂ and NaAlH₄ have high gravimetric hydrogen contents. However, they suffer from relatively slow kinetics and high hydrogen-release temperatures. One strategy for improving the hydrogen-release properties of these materials is to reduce the particle size and add small amounts of highly dispersed catalysts.

Testing the idea

Researchers at the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science at Utrecht University have pioneered a melt infiltration method to prepare carbon-supported light metal hydride nanomaterials such as nanosized MgH₂. In a paper published recently in Nanotechnology, the group describes the preparation method and reveals the subsequent hydrogen sorption properties of its carbon supported Mg(Ni)H_x nanocrystallites. The materials were prepared by magnesium melt infiltration of nanoporous carbon-containing nickel nanoparticles, followed by cooling and hydrogenation.

Bulk MgH₂ contains 7.7wt% of hydrogen, although the gas is released typically only at 400–450 °C. From the bulk phase diagram full phase segregation into MgH₂ and Mg₂NiH₄ would be expected, but the supported nanomaterials showed no hydrogen release in this temperature range.

Favourable result

Even for high MgH₂ loadings (50wt%) and a relatively low nickel content (corresponding to Mg_0.95Ni_0.05 atomic composition) hydrogen-release temperatures were effectively lowered by 100–200 °C compared with bulk MgH₂. The favorable hydrogen desorption properties could be attributed mainly to the excellent kinetics brought about by the efficient mixing of magnesium, nickel and carbon on the nanoscale.

The results illustrate the potential of this preparation technique for designing nanoscale mixtures of metals and provide access to studies on the thermodynamic and kinetic hydrogen sorption properties of nanocrystalline mixed light-metal alloy (hydrides).

About the author

The research was carried out at Utrecht University, the Netherlands, in the group of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis (headed by Prof. Krijn de Jong) at the Debye Institute of Nanomaterials Science. Within this group the hydrogen team (led by Dr Petra de Jongh) investigates the possibilities of nanostructured materials for efficient on-board hydrogen storage. Postdoctoral fellow Philipp Adelhelm and MSc student René Bogerd are members of this team, while Hans Meeldijk is an electron microscopy expert in the Electron Microscopy group at the Department of Biology of Utrecht University.

Topsoe Fuel Cell has received 2.8 million EUR from the Danish Energy Agency as part of the Energy Development and Demonstration Programme for the development and demonstration of energy technologies.

Production and demonstration

The funds have been awarded a project titled ”Solid oxide fuel cells towards actual application”, the goal of which is to bring the SOFC technology one step closer to commercialisation. The project focuses on lowering production costs and expanding production capacity.

At the same time the goal is to gain further experience with the application of solid oxide fuel cells through demonstration projects, for example at the H.C. Ørsted Power Station, where a Topsoe Fuel Cell demonstration unit is already running.

Towards commercialisation of fuel cells

”The project is an important step towards the further commercialisation of fuel cells,” says Joachim Harteg Jacobsen, manager for Technology Demonstration. ”It is a great challenge to bring new technology to market, and this step brings us much closer to our actual goal – when the technology turns into commercial products.”

Project partners

The project is carried out in collaboration with Risø DTU, and the demonstration project at the H.C. Ørsted Power Station is carried out in collaboration between Topsoe Fuel Cell and DONG Energy.

Contact

For further information please contact Claus Voigt Andersen, Manager for Business Development,

Topsoe Fuel Cell at +45 2265 7565 (mobile) or via e-mail clva@topsoe.dk

Company success leads to corporate expansion. In the presence of the Minister of Employment and Economic Affairs of the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt Dr. Reiner Haseloff and numerous other guests FuelCon AG celebrated the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone of the company’s new headquarters.

As a result of the growing number of orders and employees during the last few years, the maximum available production capacity of FuelCon´s current headquarters in the Innovations- und Gründerzentrum Magdeburg-Barleben (IGZ) has been reached. As a result, a new, larger headquarters will be built over the next several months at the “Technologiepark Ostfalen” in Magdeburg-Barleben.

At exactly 3 p.m. Mr. Mathias Bode and Dr. Ingo Benecke, Managing Board FuelCon AG, welcomed the Minister of Economic Affairs Dr. Reiner Haseloff, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Börde district Mr. Thomas Webel, the governing Mayor of the Barleben municipality Mr. Franz-Ullrich Keindorff as well as other invited guests and future neighbours from industry, policy and society. Afterwards, Dr. Haseloff welcomed the guests with an opening speech, followed by Dr. Benecke who summarized the establishment and positive developments of FuelCon AG during the last years. Following the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone, Mr. Bode and Dr. Benecke together with the Minister and Chief Administrative Officer filled a time capsule with symbols of the event and placed them into the foundation stone.

“Due to the continuous expansion and enhancement of our product portfolio, ranging from testing systems for fuel cells and batteries to testing services, we are reaching the space limits at our current facility.” states Mr. Bode. “Building our own company building will not only ensure our long-term production capacity, but can also provide our customers with an adequate environment for the consulting and engineering of international test system projects.” Dr. Ingo Benecke comments, “In addition, the new building will provide the basis for further development of our technically leading products and service excellence.”

With a total investment of approximately 5 million Euros, the office and production capacities of FuelCon AG will be substantially increased. Along with the enlarged production hall, the testing center, research laboratory, meeting rooms and offices for sales, engineering and purchase department will be consolidated. A future enhancement of the new headquarters will be possible. With the establishment of a new company building, the managing board has set the course for a further profitable company growth and sustainable competitiveness. This investment is also a strong commitment to the industrial location of Saxony-Anhalt. Up to 50 new high quality jobs in an innovative industry will be established for the region in the medium term.

Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister of Employment and Economic Affairs Dr. Reiner Haseloff is very pleased that the company maintains its location at Barleben. “It is a strong indicator of the regional benefits that the new headquarters is built directly at the doors of the current facility at the Innovations- und Gründerzentrum Magdeburg-Barleben (IGZ). Furthermore, it is located close to the planed Institute of Competence in AutoMobility (Institut für Kompetenz in AutoMobilität IKAM) that will be supported by the Federal Government of Saxony-Anhalt with capital from the Economic Stimulus Package II. With this industry-oriented research institute, located at the University and the IGZ, we aim to support innovations in the automotive sector. Therefore, we need innovation-savvy companies with strong growing potential who are dedicated to the institute and practical research.” comments the Minister.

About FuelCon:
FuelCon is the global leading supplier of test and diagnostic systems for fuel cells, batteries and super capacitors. For years, the FuelCon name is recognized for extraordinary product quality, high technical standard, dedication to costumer service and innovation. With its test station series “Evaluator” the company manufactures test rigs for all typical fuel cell technologies like PEM, DMFC, SOFC or MCFC in a power range between a few watts up to 150kW fuel cell performance. The Evaluator-B enables the fully automated testing of batteries, super capacitors and energy management systems. Furthermore, FuelCon offers with the product lines TrueData and TrueXessory a various portfolio of diagnostic equipment and accessories. Aside its headquarters in Germany, FuelCon is with its subsidiary FuelCon Systems Inc. and several Representatives active in Europe, North America and Asia.