Laboratory of Inorganic Materials (LIM), Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute (CPERI), Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH)

The Laboratory of Inorganic Materials is one the seven laboratories of CPERI/CERTH. The Centre for Research & Technology Hellas is one of the leading research centers in Greece and is listed among the TOP-20 E.U. research institutions with the highest participation in competitive research grants. The mission of CERTH is the conduction of basic and applied research with emphasis on the development of innovative products and services with high industrial, economic and social impact. CPERI/CERTH has participated successfully in more than 200 competitive research projects with a total budget exceeding 50 M€ and involving more than 95 universities and research centers and more than 165 international industries.

The Laboratory of Inorganic Materials was established in the middle of 2001 and since then its research is focused on inorganic materials science for the development of innovative functional and structural ceramics. LIM is located at the A’ Section of the buildings of CERTH kai its facilities occupy a total area of about 250 square meters. It is staffed by 1 principal researcher, 1 special functional scientist, 2 collaborating faculty members, 4 PhD research assistants and 2 MSc research assistants, while it hosts a significant number of undergraduate and postgraduate students who perform their theses at its facilities.

From the wide range of inorganic materials, LIM is focusing its research and development activities on ceramics (oxides or mixed metal oxides) and mainly on magnetic, dielectric, piezoelectric ceramic materials for microelectronics applications, sensors, materials for micro- and nano-porous ceramic membranes for liquid or gas separation and redox materials for catalytic applications and dense membranes. LIM’s know-how lies in the understanding of the effect of the various physicochemical properties on the behavior of the materials, as well as the mechanisms through which the functional parameters of the synthesis process influences the chemical and morphological characteristics of the materials.

Contribution to the project

One of the main targets of the project is the development of materials with high ionic and electronic conductivity for the preparation of membranes with suitable defined porosity that will serve as a matrix for the production of dual-phase membranes with high permeability and mechanical strength. The research group of the Laboratory of Inorganic Materials with a large scientific experience on the preparation and testing of membranes for gas separations and on the development of materials with high ionic and electron conductivity, will undertake these tasks.

In more detail, during the Task 1.2 LIM will conduct the synthesis and the physicochemical characterization of materials with ionic or/and mixed conductivity. The porous matrixes will be prepared with ceramic materials and metals and various parameters, that affect the development of suitable porosity and mechanical strength, will be examined. Also the team will examine the effect of the various parameters during the add of the carbonate mix on the porous membranes to the optimum filling of the pores. The membranes will be characterized using XRD, physical nitrogen adsorption and scanning electronic microscopy combined with EDS X-ray microanalysis.

During Task 2.2, the membranes will be evaluated with ionic and electronic conductivity measurement using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The measurements will be performed in the range of 25°C to the desired temperature (700-950°C) and with a partial oxygen pressure between 10-3 and 1 atm. The permeability and selectivity of the membranes will be tested at operating conditions (T=700-950°C, low partial oxygen pressure, standard feed that simulated the exhaust composition). Depending on the results of the development and the evaluation of the selective membranes, a model will be developed in order to simulate the membranes’ behavior at the operating conditions.