Solar Energy
Reduced nickel content leads to improved stability and performance for Ceramic fuel cells
A research team in Korea has developed a ceramic fuel cell that offers both stability and high performance while reducing the required amount of catalyst by a factor of 20. The application range for ceramic fuel cells, which have so far only been used for large-scale power generation due to the difficulties associated with frequent start-ups, can be expected to expand to new fields, such as electric vehicles, robots, and drones.
The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced that a team led by Dr. Ji-Won Son at the Center for Energy Materials Research, through joint research with Professor Seung Min Han at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), has developed a new technology that suppresses the deterioration brought on by the reduction-oxidation cycle, a major cause of ceramic fuel cell degradation, by significantly reducing the quantity and size of the nickel catalyst in the anode using a thin-film technology.
Ceramic fuel cells, representative of high-temperature fuel cells, generally operate at high temperatures – 800 C or higher. Therefore, inexpensive catalysts, such as nickel, can be used in these cells, as opposed to low-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells, which use expensive platinum catalysts.
Nickel usually comprises approximately 40% of the anode volume of a ceramic fuel cell. However, since nickel agglomerates at high temperatures, when the ceramic fuel cell is exposed to the oxidation and reduction processes which accompany stop-restart cycles, uncontrollable expansion occurs.
This results in the destruction of the entire ceramic fuel cell structure. This fatal drawback has prevented the generation of power by ceramic fuel cells from applications which require frequent start-ups.
In an effort to overcome this, Dr. Ji-Won Son’s team at KIST developed a new concept for an anode which contains significantly less nickel, just 1/20 of a conventional ceramic fuel cell. This reduced amount of nickel enables the nickel particles in the anode to remain isolated from one another.
To compensate for the reduced amount of the nickel catalyst, the nickel’s surface area is drastically increased through the realization of an anode structure where nickel nanoparticles are evenly distributed throughout the ceramic matrix using a thin-film deposition process.
In ceramic fuel cells utilizing this novel anode, no deterioration or performance degradation of the ceramic fuel cells was witnessed, even after more than 100 reduction-oxidation cycles, in comparison with conventional ceramic fuel cells, which failed after fewer than 20 cycles.
Moreover, the power output of the novel anode ceramic fuel cells was improved by 1.5 times compared to conventional cells, despite the substantial reduction of the nickel content.
Dr. Ji-Won Son explained the significance of the study, stating, “Our research into the novel anode fuel cell was systematically conducted at every stage, from design to realization and evaluation, based on our understanding of reduction-oxidation failure, which is one of the primary causes of the destruction of ceramic fuel cells.” Dr. Son also commented, “The potential to apply these ceramic fuel cells to fields other than power plants, such as for mobility, is tremendous.”
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800-mn-euro battery factory to be built in Finland
by AFP Staff Writers
Helsinki (AFP) Mar 20, 2025
A Chinese-Finnish company announced Thursday it would begin building a battery materials plant in Finland in April, the first of its kind in the Nordic country.
The plant will produce cathode active material, a key component in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and for energy storage, said Easpring Finland New Materials, a company co-owned by Finnish Minerals Group and Beijing Easpring Material Technology.
It said the investment was worth 800 million euros ($868 million).
The announcement came one week after a bankruptcy filing by Swedish battery maker Northvolt, which had planned to develop cathode production but dropped those plans to focus on battery cell production as it fought for survival.
Easpring Finland New Materials said commercial production was expected to begin in 2027.
The plant, to be located in Kotka in southeast Finland, will initially produce 60,000 tonnes of cathode active material annually.
At full production capacity, it could supply cathode material for the production of around 750,000 electric vehicles annually, the company said.
Matti Hietanen, the chief executive of Finnish Minerals Group, said the investment created an “entirely new kind of industry in Finland related to the production of lithium-ion batteries” and represented a European “spearhead project for the industry.”
The new plant will employ 270 people and an area of around 80 hectares had been reserved for its construction.
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Nanocellulose infused with red onion extract shields solar cells from UV degradation
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Mar 20, 2025
Researchers at the University of Turku in Finland have developed a bio-based film that provides high-performance UV protection for solar cells, utilizing nanocellulose treated with red onion skin extract. This marks the first comparative study of how various bio-derived UV filters perform over time.
Solar cells, susceptible to damage from ultraviolet radiation, are typically shielded by petroleum-derived films such as polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In an effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, researchers are exploring sustainable alternatives like nanocellulose, a material made by refining cellulose into nanoscale fibers that can be customized for UV blocking capabilities.
The study, conducted in collaboration with Aalto University in Finland and Wageningen University in the Netherlands, revealed that nanocellulose films dyed with red onion extract blocked 99.9% of UV rays up to 400 nanometres. This performance surpassed that of commercial PET-based filters, which served as a benchmark in the research.
“Nanocellulose films treated with red onion dye are a promising option in applications where the protective material should be bio-based,” stated Doctoral Researcher Rustem Nizamov from the University of Turku.
Researchers evaluated four types of nanocellulose films enhanced with red onion extract, lignin, or iron ions, all known for their UV-filtering properties. Among them, the film incorporating red onion extract demonstrated the most effective UV shielding.
Effective UV protection must be balanced with the ability to transmit visible and near-infrared light, essential for solar energy conversion. While materials like lignin excel in UV absorption, their dark hue hinders transparency. In contrast, the red onion-based film achieved over 80% light transmission at wavelengths between 650 and 1,100 nanometres, maintaining this level over extended testing.
To simulate prolonged outdoor use, the films were exposed to artificial light for 1,000 hours, equating to roughly one year of natural sunlight in central Europe. Researchers tracked changes in the films and solar cells through digital imaging.
“The study emphasised the importance of long-term testing for UV filters, as the UV protection and light transmittance of the other bio-based filters changed significantly over time. For example, the films treated with iron ions had good initial transmittance which reduced after aging,” tells Nizamov.
Tests focused on dye-sensitised solar cells, which are particularly prone to UV-induced deterioration. The findings also have broader implications for other solar technologies like perovskite and organic photovoltaics, where bio-based UV filters could play a crucial role.
“These results are also relevant for the UV protection of other types of solar cells, including perovskite and organic photovoltaics, as well as any application where the use of a bio-based UV filter is paramount,” Nizamov says.
Looking ahead, the researchers aim to create biodegradable solar cells that could serve as power sources in applications such as food packaging sensors.
“The forest industry is interested in developing new high-grade products. In the field of electronics, these may also be components for solar cells,” noted Kati Miettunen, Professor in Materials Engineering.
The University of Turku’s Solar Energy Materials and Systems (SEMS) group is exploring ways to integrate solar technologies into broader energy systems.
This work was part of the BioEST project, supported by the Research Council of Finland.
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Space Solar teams with MagDrive to boost in-orbit solar power systems
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Mar 20, 2025
Space Solar, a leading force in the field of space-based solar power (SBSP), has formed a strategic alliance with UK propulsion technology company Magdrive to enhance the deployment of large-scale infrastructure in orbit. The agreement, unveiled during the Farnborough International Space Show (FISS), is formalized under the Space Propulsion and Infrastructure Innovation Initiative (SPI3), reflecting a concerted push to realize space-driven clean energy.
SPI3 is designed to help fulfil the UK’s long-term goal of producing scalable, sustainable energy directly from space. By integrating Magdrive’s advanced propulsion systems, the initiative addresses the complex challenge of transporting, assembling, and managing substantial SBSP infrastructure in orbit.
Space Solar plans to launch its first 30-megawatt SBSP platform within five years, and success hinges on the ability to control and maintain massive solar satellite structures. Magdrive’s propulsion solutions are poised to support upcoming demonstration missions by enabling essential orbital maneuvers, satellite assembly, and shape optimization.
“Innovation in propulsion is essential to making large-scale space infrastructure a reality,” said Sam Adlen, Co-CEO of Space Solar. “Space Solar and Magdrive share a vision of advancing sustainable space operations that benefit earth, and this collaboration will pave the way for new propulsion solutions that will be indispensable for space-based solar power and other large scale space infrastructure.”
This partnership is also set to strengthen the UK’s space sector by stimulating high-value job creation and technological advancement. It highlights the country’s dedication to leading innovation at the intersection of clean energy and aerospace.
As part of SPI3, both companies will collaborate on refining propulsion specifications tailored to SBSP systems and identify additional applications for these technologies within the broader context of UK-led space initiatives. The cooperation is a key step towards expanding the UK’s footprint in the global space economy and unlocking emerging opportunities in space-based energy markets.
“We’re excited to work with Space Solar, they’re building the future of space energy and infrastructure on a scale never seen before. By working together we’ll be propelling the space industry towards enabling sustainable life on earth. Here’s to the new space age!” said Mark Stokes, CEO, MagDrive.
United by a vision to deliver scalable energy solutions from space, Space Solar and Magdrive’s agreement represents a pivotal move toward the commercialization of SBSP. As Space Solar progresses toward critical mission milestones, incorporating Magdrive’s propulsion technology will bring the reality of space-derived clean energy closer than ever.
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