West Virginia University engineers have developed a groundbreaking fuel cell that can efficiently store and generate electricity or hydrogen, providing a potential solution to stabilize the power grid amidst the variability of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. This innovative fuel cell, known as a protonic ceramic electrochemical cell (PCEC), is designed to switch between energy storage and power production, offering flexibility for the evolving U.S. electrical grid. The team, led by researcher Xingbo Liu, overcame the challenges faced by current PCEC designs by developing a conformally coated scaffold structure that remains stable in high heat and steam environments, ensuring efficient proton conduction and performance. Their prototype demonstrated exceptional durability, operating for over 5,000 hours at 600 degrees Celsius and 40% humidity, surpassing previous performance records. The study, published in Nature Energy, highlights the successful outcomes led by doctoral student Hanchen Tian and research assistant professor Wei Li, with support from other WVU contributors. The team's advancements in incorporating barium and nickel ions into the design show promise for industrial scalability and stability under extreme conditions. With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and recognition through the DOE Hydrogen Production Technology Award, the researchers aim to commercialize the fuel cell design with the potential to revolutionize energy storage and production systems.