Page of Department for Energy Conversion

Department for Energy Conversion

Energy, which is indispensable for industry and society, in most cases needs to undergo some sort of conversion according to the intended purposes as, for example, in the case of conversion from chemical energy in petroleum to electrical energy. Also, from the point of view of preservation of the global environment aiming at the utilization of fossil fuels in as effective and environment-friendly was as possible, development of innovative technology is called for.

On the basis of the traditions and achievements in the fields of electrochemistry in past years, research and development efforts are being made in the department on fuel cells, with emphasis on a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) that can generate electricity with far higher efficiency than that of thermal power generation, and on a lithium battery intended for storage of electric energy, which can be applied to the effective utilization of dumped power at night and to electric vehicles. This department is playing a major role in these projects under the New Sunshine Project.

In the fields of carbon and ceramics as well, to which we have long been committed in our research, constant effort is being made in pursuit of new structural materials with high heat- and corrosion-resistance, which are indispensable for the development of a high-efficiency gas turbine or hydrogencombustion gas turbine, carbon materials for applications such as the negative electrode in a lithium battery, and of such new functional materials as graphite intercalation compounds (of which much is expected in terms of new functions), bismuth-base superconducting oxide whiskers, various kinds of silicides promising for power device application, etc.

Director, Department for Energy Conversion Dr.Yoshihiro SAWADA	Go to page of each section
	Battery Section
	Fuel Cell Section
	Ionic Chemistry Section,
	High Temperature Materials Section
	Inorganic Materials Section

Battery Section

E-mail address : battery@onri.go.jp .

At the Battery Section, in the department, research is being carried out on a lithium storage battery , featuring the highest theoretical energy density of all batteries conceivable and called the ultimate battery at the present stage. Much is expected in the area of the development of light and compact batteries, which can benefit major electrical power consumers of applied to load-leveling, and also to their use in electric vehicles. The greatest task in this regard is to realize a battery (using the metal lithium, which has an exceptionally high chemical reactivity), which is assured of a high degree of safety, high energy density and longevity. With these facts in mind, our effort is directed to the elucidation of the involved electrode reaction mechanism and development of new battery component materials.

Fuel Cell Section

E-mail address : fuelcell@onri.go.jp .

In the Fuel Cell Section, research is under way on the molten carbonate fuel cell , which allows direct power generation from natural gas or coal gasfied gas at high efficiency. The type of fuel cell is free of such problems as pollutant gas, noise, etc., so it can be considered as an environment-friendly power generation technology. As it uses molten alkaline carbonate at a temperature of around 650 degree as the electrolyte, assurance of high heat- and corrosion-resistance of the cell component materials is essential for achieving stable operations over long periods of time. To solve this problem, we are aiming to develop viable new materials and establish evaluation technology for various materials, while furthering our basic study on molten salts.

Ionic Chemistry Section

E-mail address : ionken@onri.go.jp .

At the Ionic Chemistry Section, emphasis is laid on the basic study of energy and electrochemistry. Nothing the ionic conduction in solids, research is being carried out in survey of a new material exhibiting high oxide ion conductivity to be desirable for solid oxide fuel cells or for high-temperature water vapor electrolysis , along with development on suitable manufacturing and processing techniques. In addition, research is being carried out on such themes as the synthesis of high-intensity fluophors obtainable by making use of the interactions between molten salts and solids, and the adsorption of various substances on the active carbon in aqueous solutions.

High Temperature Materials Section

E-mail address : koonzai@onri.go.jp .

Research in the High Temperature Materials Section is focused on carbon materials. Carbon materials are the most miraculous material for ultra-high temperature applications such as hydrogen combustion gas turbine, because they retain their mechanical properties to temperatures excess of 2000 degree and their densities are small. The study in this section is directed to structure control at microscopic levels on carbon/carbon composites and the elucidation of the deterioration mechanism in hydrogen combustion atmosphere. Also, research efforts have been making on suchutilization as electrode materials, as well as on the creation of novel graphite intercalation compounds.

Inorganic Materials Section

E-mail address : mukiken@onri.go.jp .

In the Inorganic Materials Section, research is being done with emphasis placed on ceramic materials. Using ceramic components in gas turbines, etc., a high efficiency can be achieved by raising the operational temperatures. The staff in this section are working hard to find out ways to overcome the weak point of the "brittleness" inherent in such ceramic components, while also tackling studies on structure control at atomic-to-nano levels and on ceramic coating techniques. In addition to these studies, they are working to improve the critical current and critical magnetic field for the bismuth-base oxide superconducting whiskers obtained from a new technique utilizing glassified solids.