Trends in research and development of protonic ceramic electrolysis cells

Hydrogen energy is an ever-growing and increasingly crucial current field of science and technology aimed at solving many global problems, such as world-wide pollution, the greenhouse effect, inefficient energy conversion, as well as the depletion of non-renewable energy sources. The present work highlights the most recent achievements of hydrogen production utilising protonic ceramic electrolysis cells (PCECs) as energy conversion systems. PCECs are a promising technology, capable of combining high efficiency, flexibility under diverse working conditions and excellent performance. Special attention is paid to novel functional materials, technological strategies and modes of optimising PCECs to allow their excellent electrochemical characteristics to be maintained at relatively low operation temperatures (400-800 degrees C) compared with traditional solid oxide electrolysis cells based on oxygen-conducting electrolytes. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.