Ceramic ion conducting membranes

Ceramic ion conducting membranes are a generic group of materials with many potential large-scale applications in solid oxide fuel cells, oxygen generators and partial oxidation reactors. At present the transport and surface exchange kinetic characteristics are emphasized to maximize ionic fluxes. However, as the dense membrane is often fabricated in the form of a thick film on a supported porous structure there is an increasing realization that the available processing routes and thermomechanical behaviour will also strongly influence the selection of materials. Accordingly, increasing attention is now being given to the effect of the imposed chemical potential gradient upon thermochemical stability and structural integrity. (C) Current Chemistry Ltd