Guest: Aligül Büyükaksoy, Gebze Technical University

Title: Towards Viable Solid Oxide Cell Components for Clean Energy Storage and Conversion (MAT, ME)

Date/Time: November 13, 2024, 13:40

Location: FENS G035

Abstract: Global warming may be one of the most important and the toughest challenges humanity has faced. Considering that our hydrocarbon combustion-centered electricity generation is the main source of carbonaceous gas emissions - the root cause of global warming - working towards a cleaner electricity production scheme appears to be critical to the accomplishment of this task.

Adopting renewable energy technologies, such as; solar and wind, seem quite straight-forward in this case. To render these technologies viable, their intermittency mitigated. Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are high-temperature (600-800 °C) electrochemical devices that can both convert electricity and water to hydrogen and oxygen hydrogen and vice versa – a trait that can address the intermittency problem of renewables.

In our group we deal with the materials science-related problems associated with the SOC technology. We attempt to enhance the performance of the electrode and electrolyte materials through new chemistry development, design of novel synthesis and fabrication routes to obtain more favorable microstructures. Moreover, we conduct mechanistic studies to understand the mechanism through which performance degradations during long-term operation occur and attempt to mitigate them. 

In particular, the powder-free fabrication route developed in our group, which enabled nanoscale composite morphology and the application of microstructure and chemistry stabilization through multiple interlayers will be presented.

Bio: Aligül Büyükaksoy obtained his BS and MSc degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Gebze Technical University (then, Gebze Institute of Technology) in 2007 and 2009, respectively. He completed his PhD work in 2013, at Missouri University of Science and Technology in the same field. Through Eyes High and Calgary Innovates – Technology Futures fellowships, he then worked under the supervision of Prof. Viola Birss at the University of Calgary for two years. In 2016, he joined the Materials Science and Engineering department at Gebze Technical University as an assistant professor and got promoted to associate professor position in 2021.  His research interests include solid oxide cells, defect chemistry, solid state electrochemistry, electroceramics and ceramic fabrication techniques.