A research team from Kyushu University in Japan has published groundbreaking results in the journal Nature Materials, successfully developing a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that operates at temperatures as low as 300°C. This breakthrough is expected to significantly reduce the manufacturing costs of fuel cells and accelerate the commercialization of hydrogen energy technology.

Conventional solid oxide fuel cells typically require operation at high temperatures of 700–800°C, resulting in high material costs. The interdisciplinary energy research team led by Professor Yoshihiro Yamazaki at Kyushu University discovered a special proton conduction mechanism in scandium-doped barium stannate and barium titanate electrolytes through innovative material design. “Lowering the operating temperature to 300°C will dramatically reduce material costs and open the door to consumer-level systems,” Professor Yamazaki stated.

The research team found that high-concentration scandium doping creates a “scandium oxide highway” in the electrolyte lattice, allowing protons to move rapidly with extremely low energy barriers. This new electrolyte achieves a proton conductivity of 0.01 S/cm at 300°C, comparable to conventional electrolytes operating at 600–700°C. “Our work transforms a long-standing scientific paradox into a practical and viable solution,” Yamazaki added.

This technological breakthrough is not limited to solid oxide fuel cells; it can also be extended to water electrolysis for hydrogen production, carbon dioxide conversion, and other fields. The low-temperature operation enables the use of more economical materials, substantially reducing overall system costs. The researchers anticipate that this discovery will accelerate the integration of hydrogen energy technology into everyday life and provide new options for the clean energy transition.