1
|
Ruse CM, Hume LA, Wang Y, Pesacreta TC, Zhou XD. Quantifying Microstructure Features for High-Performance Solid Oxide Cells. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:2622. [PMID: 38893886 PMCID: PMC11173469 DOI: 10.3390/ma17112622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The drive for sustainable energy solutions has spurred interest in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). This study investigates the impact of sintering temperature on SOFC anode microstructures using advanced 3D focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM). The anode's ceramic-metal composition significantly influences electrochemical performance, making optimization crucial. Comparing cells sintered at different temperatures reveals that a lower sintering temperature enhances yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and nickel distribution, volume, and particle size, along with the triple-phase boundary (TPB) interface. Three-dimensional reconstructions illustrate that the cell sintered at a lower temperature exhibits a well-defined pore network, leading to increased TPB density. Hydrogen flow simulations demonstrate comparable permeability for both cells. Electrochemical characterization confirms the superior performance of the cell sintered at the lower temperature, displaying higher power density and lower total cell resistance. This FIB-SEM methodology provides precise insights into the microstructure-performance relationship, eliminating the need for hypothetical structures and enhancing our understanding of SOFC behavior under different fabrication conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Mariana Ruse
- Institute for Materials Research & Innovation, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA; (Y.W.); (T.C.P.)
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
- Microscopy Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA;
| | - Lily Ann Hume
- Microscopy Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA;
| | - Yudong Wang
- Institute for Materials Research & Innovation, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA; (Y.W.); (T.C.P.)
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
| | - Thomas C. Pesacreta
- Institute for Materials Research & Innovation, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA; (Y.W.); (T.C.P.)
- Microscopy Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA;
| | - Xiao-Dong Zhou
- Institute for Materials Research & Innovation, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA; (Y.W.); (T.C.P.)
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Setevich C, Larrondo S. 3D resistor-network modeling of infiltrated SOFC electrodes. Electrochim Acta 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.140686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
3
|
Zhang D, Bertei A, Tariq F, Brandon N, Cai Q. Progress in 3D electrode microstructure modelling for fuel cells and batteries: transport and electrochemical performance. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1088/2516-1083/ab38c7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
|
4
|
Amitai S, Bertei A, Blumenfeld R. Theory-based design of sintered granular composites triples three-phase boundary in fuel cells. Phys Rev E 2018; 96:052903. [PMID: 29347656 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.96.052903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Solid-oxide fuel cells produce electric current from energy released by a spontaneous electrochemical reaction. The efficiency of these devices depends crucially on the microstructure of their electrodes and in particular on the three-phase boundary (TPB) length, along which the energy-producing reaction occurs. We present a systematic maximization of the TPB length as a function of four readily controllable microstructural parameters, for any given mean hydraulic radius, which is a conventional measure of the permeability to gas flow. We identify the maximizing parameters and show that the TPB length can be increased by a factor of over 300% compared to current common practices. We support this result by calculating the TPB of several numerically simulated structures. We also compare four models for a single intergranular contact in the sintered electrode and show that the model commonly used in the literature is oversimplified and unphysical. We then propose two alternatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shahar Amitai
- Imperial College London, London SW7 2BP, United Kingdom
| | | | - Raphael Blumenfeld
- Imperial College London, London SW7 2BP, United Kingdom.,Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rhazaoui K, Cai Q, Adjiman C, Brandon N. Towards the 3D modeling of the effective conductivity of solid oxide fuel cell electrodes – II. Computational parameters. Chem Eng Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2014.05.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
6
|
Bertei A, Nucci B, Nicolella C. Microstructural modeling for prediction of transport properties and electrochemical performance in SOFC composite electrodes. Chem Eng Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2013.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
7
|
Rhazaoui K, Cai Q, Adjiman C, Brandon N. Towards the 3D modeling of the effective conductivity of solid oxide fuel cell electrodes: I. Model development. Chem Eng Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2013.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
|
8
|
Percolation Theory in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Composite Electrodes with a Mixed Electronic and Ionic Conductor. ENERGIES 2013. [DOI: 10.3390/en6031632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
9
|
Cocco AP, Nelson GJ, Harris WM, Nakajo A, Myles TD, Kiss AM, Lombardo JJ, Chiu WKS. Three-dimensional microstructural imaging methods for energy materials. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2013; 15:16377-407. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cp52356j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
10
|
|
11
|
Abbaspour A, Luo JL, Nandakumar K. Three-dimensional random resistor-network model for solid oxide fuel cell composite electrodes. Electrochim Acta 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2010.02.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
12
|
Morphology and electrochemical activity of SOFC composite cathodes: I. experimental analysis. J APPL ELECTROCHEM 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s10800-008-9708-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
13
|
Tsipis EV, Kharton VV. Electrode materials and reaction mechanisms in solid oxide fuel cells: a brief review. J Solid State Electrochem 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s10008-008-0611-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 348] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
14
|
Martinez AS, Brouwer J. Percolation modeling investigation of TPB formation in a solid oxide fuel cell electrode–electrolyte interface. Electrochim Acta 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2007.11.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
15
|
Barbucci A, Carpanese M, Reverberi AP, Cerisola G, Blanes M, Cabot PL, Viviani M, Bertei A, Nicolella C. Influence of electrode thickness on the performance of composite electrodes for SOFC. J APPL ELECTROCHEM 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s10800-008-9500-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
16
|
Ni M, Leung MK, Leung DY. Mathematical modeling of the coupled transport and electrochemical reactions in solid oxide steam electrolyzer for hydrogen production. Electrochim Acta 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2007.04.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|