Solid oxide battery
A solid oxide battery includes a solid electrolyte disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are coupled to an external source or load to charge or discharge the solid oxide battery. The solid electrolyte is formed from a proton conducting material to transport and store hydrogen, which is the source of chemical energy. The second electrode is formed from a noble metal configured to induce formation of oxygen vacancies at the interface between the second electrode and the solid electrolyte. The oxygen vacancies are used to split water molecules during charging of the solid oxide battery, which results in the generation of hydrogen. Under bias, the hydrogen ions are transported into the solid electrolyte and stored. During discharge, a reverse process occurs where hydrogen is used to generate water and electricity.
1. A battery comprising:
a first electrode;
a second electrode comprising a noble metal and a surface in direct contact with a water source; and
a solid electrolyte, disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and defining an interface in direct contact with the second electrode, to store protons generated by splitting water from the water source at the interface.
2. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode has a thickness of about 3 nm to about 10 nm.
3. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is deposited on a flexible substrate.
4. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte has a thickness of about 4 nm to about 100 nm.
5. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte comprises a solid oxide having a bixbyite structure.
6. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte comprises at least one of gadolinium oxide or yttrium oxide.
7. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte comprises an anode region bordering the second electrode, a cathode region bordering the first electrode, and an electrolyte region disposed between the anode region and the cathode region.
8. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte is a first solid electrolyte and the interface is a first interface, and further comprising:
a third electrode; and
a second solid electrolyte disposed between the second electrode and the third electrode and defining a second interface with the third electrode, to store protons generated by splitting water at the second interface.
9. The battery of claim 8 , wherein the first solid electrolyte comprises a different material than the second solid electrolyte and the second electrode comprises a different material than the third electrode.
10. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode is patterned with a plurality of openings to allow water molecules to pass through.
11. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode has a thickness is a range of 3 nm to 10 nm.
12. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the water source comprises ambient atmosphere.
13. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the water source comprises liquid water.
14. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the water source comprises a sol gel layer disposed onto the surface of the second electrode.