Thanks to researchers from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the world of fuel cells got a jerk. The team worked hard to develop a new technology that could completely change the way we approach the fuel cell production. The new process includes 3D printing and means that the team is referred to as “monolithic gyroid festival oxide cell” (or short “only” the monolith “). This work was reported by interesting engineering together with a magazine published on the DTU website.
The team implemented an individual design that was inspired by the natural construction of corals. This shape optimizes the surface, while the material composition enables a much lighter end product. Most fuel cells are made of metal, which contributes greatly to their weight. This fuel cell is apparently completely ceramic.
The material also has a surprisingly remarkable amount of durability. When testing the ability of the fuel cell to withstand temperature fluctuations, they managed to treat temperatures up to 100 ° C. It also retained its structural integrity when it switched between the modes for performance and generations.