Laboratory for Chemical Design of New Multifunctional Materials

Scientific results:

• We have refined a methodology of the synthesis of complex-oxide materials based on alkaline-earth and rare-earth elements and 3d transition metals. The boundaries of the regions of the existence and the structural        characteristics of multi-component solid solutions have been determined. Our researchers have determined the trends of changes, electron transport properties, thermal expansion, oxygen nonstoichiometry of oxide materials with the change of the concentration of dopants, temperature and the partial pressure of oxygen. We assessed the chemical compatibility of the researched oxides with the most widespread solid electrolytes of the working atmosphere. Computations have been performed to determined the equilibrium hydrogen outputs and provided an estimate of the applicability of oxide materials in thermochemical redox cycles. We have measured the current-voltage curves of individual fuel cells based on an oxygen-conducting    electrolyte.
• Our researchers have collected an extensive array of experimental data on materials that are promising for use in the domain of hydrogen power generation, including data on the thermodynamic stability of complex oxides, phase diagrams of the state of systems, oxygen nonstoichiometry and the structure of defects as well as such significant functional properties as electrical conductivity, thermal expansion, chemical compatibility.
• We have determined the relation between the chemical composition, the crystal and defect structure, the thermodynamics of disordering and oxygen exchange and the complex of target chemical, electrophysical and thermochemical properties of complex oxides of various structural types.
• The Laboratory has determined the possibility of practical use of various oxide compounds as efficient reaction-capable materials in thermochemical redox cycles, cathodes of solid oxide oxygen(proton)-conducting fuel cells and anodes of water electrolysers in the mid-temperature range.

Implemented results of research:

The materials produced and characterized in the course of the implementation of the project were used for the creation of an electrochemical generator based on a microturbine solid oxide fuel cell   under a contract with Rosatom State Atomiс Energy Corporation.

Education and career development:

• We have prepared and launched the master's degree program in English «Chemistry and Physics of new Functional Materials» (the first enrollment for the program will be launched in 2023).
• The Laboratory has published the textbook «Chemical thermodynamics» (authors: Andrey Yu. Zuev, Dmitriy S. Tsvetkov. Yekaterinburg, Publishing house of the Ural Federal University , 2021, 183 с. ISBN 978-5-7996-3029-4).
• In 2020-2022 we conducted winter schools in solid-state chemistry and the All-Russian youth scientific conference with international participation «Problems of theoretical and experimental chemistry».
• One Doctor of Sciences and 4 Candidate of Sciences dissertations have been prepared and defended.

Collaborations:

• CRISMAT Laboratory (France): joint scientific research with the subsequent publication of articles and abstracts of presentations at conferences.
• Institute of Solid State Chemistry of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia): joint research and works for the creation of new materials for hydrogen power generation.
• Rosatom State Atomiс Energy Corporation (Russia): development of a technology for the production of microturbine solid-oxide fuel cells with a proton-conducting electrolyte (implementing an agreement within the priority direction of scientific and technological development «Hydrogen energy»).