In situ tailored nickel nano-catalyst layer for internal reforming hydrocarbon fueled SOFCs

The authors gratefully thank the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) SuperGen Hydrogen Fuel Cells Challenges Flame SOFC Project (Grant No EP/K021036/1) for financial supportConventional Ni cermet anodes suffer from carbon deposition when they are directly used with hydrocarbon fuels due to the negative effects of pyrolysis and Boudouard reactions. In this work, the use of a non-stoichiometric perovskite, La0.8Ce0.1Ni0.4Ti0.6O3, as a reforming layer in reducing atmospheres led to the surface being highly populated with homogeneously exsolved Ni nano particles. This catalyst layer was applied to Ni-GDC anode supported and ScSZ electrolyte supported cells to prevent carbon deposition and to stabilize operation with dry methane. The catalyst layer showed both excellent attachment to the Ni-GDC anode and resistance to carbon deposition. The performance of the Ni-GDC anode-supported cells with the catalyst layer was about 1.1 W/cm2 in hydrogen fuel which is similar to that seen without the use of a catalyst layer. For the ScSZ electrolyte supported cells, the catalyst layer improved the power density and stability when in operation with dry methane.Publisher PD

Jumble Java Byte Code to Measure the Effectiveness of Unit Tests

Jumble is a byte code level mutation testing tool for Java which inter-operates with JUnit. It has been designed to operate in an industrial setting with large projects. Heuristics have been included to speed the checking of mutations, for example, noting which test fails for each mutation and running this first in subsequent mutation checks. Significant effort has been put into ensuring that it can test code which uses custom class loading and reflection. This requires careful attention to class path handling and coexistence with foreign class-loaders. Jumble is currently used on a continuous basis within an agile programming environment with approximately 370,000 lines of Java code under source control. This checks out project code every fifteen minutes and runs an incremental set of unit tests and mutation tests for modified classes. Jumble is being made available as open source

Demonstration of high performance in a perovskite oxide supported solid oxide fuel cell based on La and Ca co-doped SrTiO3

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) for the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative under grant agreement n° 256730 and Energy Technology Partnership (ETP).Perovskite electrodes have been considered as an alternative to Ni-YSZ cermet-based anodes as they afford better tolerance towards coking and impurities and due to redox stability can allow very high levels of fuel utilisation. Unfortunately performance levels have rarely been sufficient, especially for a second generation anode supported concept. A-site deficient lanthanum and calcium co-doped SrTiO3, La0.2Sr0.25Ca0.45TiO3 (LSCTA-) shows promising thermal, mechanical and electrical properties and has been investigated in this study as a potential anode support material for SOFCs. Flat multilayer ceramics cells were fabricated by aqueous tape casting and co-sintering, comprising a 450 μm thick porous LSCTA- scaffold support, a dense YSZ electrolyte and a thin layer of La0.8Sr0.2CoO3-δ (LSC)-La0.8Sr0.2FeO3-δ (LSF)-YSZ cathode. Impregnation of a small content of Ni significantly enhanced fuel cell performance over naked LSCTA-. Use of ceria as a co-catalyst was found to improve the microstructure and stability of impregnated Ni and this in combination with the catalytic enhancement from ceria significantly improved performance over Ni impregnation alone. With addition of CeO2 and Ni to a titanate scaffold anode that had been pre-reduced at 1000 oC, a maximum powder density of 0.96 W cm-2 can be achieved at 800 oC using humidified hydrogen as fuel. The encouraging results show that an oxide anode material, LSCTA- can be used as anode support with YSZ electrolyte heralding a new option for SOFC development.PostprintPeer reviewe

Why practice philosophy as a way of life?

This essay explains why there are good reasons to practice philosophy as a way of life. The argument begins with the assumption that we should live well but that our understanding of how to live well can be mistaken. Philosophical reason and reflection can help correct these mistakes. Nonetheless, the evidence suggests that philosophical reasoning often fails to change our dispositions and behavior. Drawing on the work of Pierre Hadot, the essay claims that spiritual exercises and communal engagement mitigate the factors that prevent us from living in accord- ance with our conceptions of the good life. So, many of us have reasons to engage in philosophical reasoning along with behavioral, cognitive, and social strategies to alter our behavior and attitudes so that they’re in line with our philosophical commitments. In these respects, many of us should practice philosophy as a way of life

Can digital reinvention of ecological monitoring remove barriers to its adoption by practitioners? : A case study of deer management in Scotland

Open Access funded by Economic and Social Research Council This research was supported by the award made by the RCUK Digital Economy programme to the dot.rural Digital Economy Hub (award reference EP/G066051/1). We would like to thank both the participants and the course organisers involved in the workshops for the valuable insights they offered on such a complex topic. We would also like to thank two anonymous reviewers whose insightful comments constructively shaped the subsequent article.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Aqueous thick-film ceramic processing of planar solid oxide fuel cells using La0.20Sr0.25Ca0.45TiO3 anode supports

HEXIS AG and the EPSRC projects: EP/L017008/1 “Capital for Great Technologies”; EP/ P024807/1 “Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Hub” for funding.Recent research into the upscaling and implementation of Rh/Ce0.80Gd0.20O1.90 co-impregnated La0.20Sr0.25Ca0.45TiO3 (LSCTA-) anodes in electrolyte-supported SOFC at short-stack industrial scales has resulted in extremely robust performance under realistic operation and tolerance to harsh conditions. Furthermore, evaluation of the mechanical strength of LSCTA- and incorporation of this material into anode-supported SOFC also yielded promising performance at the button cell scale (using Ni and CeO2 catalyst impregnates). The knowledge on ceramic processing obtained during these previous research campaigns may be used to develop anode-supported SOFC with LSCTA- 'backbones' that have been optimised for high mechanical strength, high 'effective' electronic conductivity and sufficient porosity. Therefore, this manuscript details the preparation of anode-supported SOFC using the thick-film ceramic processing technique of aqueous tape casting, the optimisation of anode microstructure through addition of aqueous solvent-compatible graphitic and methacrylate polymer pore formers and the co-sintering of a LSCTA- support with a typical SOFC electrolyte material.PostprintPeer reviewe