Preparation and Characterization of Component Materials for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell by Glycine-Nitrate Process

La1-xSrxGa1-y MgyO3-δ(LSGM) electrolyte, La1-xSrxCr1-y MnyO3-δ( LSCM ) anode and La1-xSrxFe1-y MnyO3-aaaaaaa(LSFM) cathode materials were all synthesized by glycine-nitrate process (GNP). The microstructure and characteristics of LSGM, LSCM and LSFM were tested via X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microcopy (SEM), A C impedance and four-probe direct current techniques. XRD shows that pure perovskite phase LSGM electrolyte and electrode (LSCM anode and LSFM cathode) materials were prepared after being sintered at 1400℃for 20 h and at 1000℃for 5 h, respectively. The max conductivities of LSGM (ionic conductivity), LSCM (total conductivity) and LSFM (total conductivity) materials are 0.02, 10, 16 S·cm-1 in the air below 850℃, respectively. The conductivity of LSCM becomes smaller when the atmosphere changes from air to pure hydrogen at the same temperature and it decreases with the temperature like metal. The porous and LSGM-based LSCM anode and LSFM cathode films were prepared by screen printing method, and the sintering temperatures for them were 1300 and 1250℃, respectively. LSGM and electrode (LSCM and LSFM) materials have good thermal and chemical compatibility.

Status and prospects of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Compared with conventional electric power generation systems, the solid oxide fuel cell （SOFC） has many advantages because of its unique features. High temperature SOFC has been successfully developed to its commercial applications, but it still faces many problems which hamper large-scale commercial applications of SOFC. To reduce the cost of SOFC, intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell （IT-SOFC） is presently under rapid development. The status of IT-SOFC was reviewed with emphasis on discussion of their component materials. 2008 University of Science and Technology Beijing. All rights reserved.

Performance of La_(1-x)Sr_xCr_(1-y)Mn_yO_(3-δ) anode materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell

La1-xSrxCr1-yMnyO3-δ(LSCM) anode materials were synthesized by glycine nitrate process(GNP). Thermo-gravimetric analysis(TGA) and differential scanning calorimetric(DSC) methods were adopted to investigate the reaction process of LSCM anode materials. The oxides prepared were characterized via X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy(SEM-EDS),direct current four-electrode and temperature process reduction(TPR) techniques. XRD patterns indicate that perovskite phase created after the precursor was sintered at 1 000 ℃ for 5 h,and single perovskite-type oxides formed after the precursor were sintered at 1 200 ℃ for 5 h. The powders are micrometer size after sintering at 1 000 ℃ and 1 200 ℃,respectively. The conductivities of LSCM samples increase linearly with increasing the temperature from 250 ℃ to 850 ℃ in air and the maximum value is 32 S/cm for La0.7Sr0.3Cr0.5Mn0.5O3-δ. But it is lower about two orders of magnitude in pure hydrogen or methane than that of the same sample in the air. TPR result indicates that LSCM offers excellently catalytic performance.

Plasma-Sprayed Coating of an Apatite-Type Lanthanum Silicate Electrolyte for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFCs)

Apatite-type lanthanum silicate was successfully synthesized via a solid state re- action protocol at 1400~C in a vacuum for 4 hours. The powder was synthesized faster and at a lower reaction temperature than by conventional solid state reaction methods. The resulting powder was used in the fabrication of a coating deposited by atmospheric plasma spray （APS） technology. The microstructure of the coating was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Heat treatment was found to fully crystallize the coating, increasing its den-sity. The ionic conductivity of the apatite coating was 0.39 （0.054） mS/cm at 850 （700） ℃, and its activation energy was 0.67 eV.

An Isothermal Study of the Electrochemical Performance of Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

A two-dimensional along the channel micro-scale isothermal model of a SOFC is developed and validated against experimental data and other simulated results from literature. The steady state behaviour of the cell was determined by numerical solution of the combined transport, continuity and kinetic equations. An important characteristic of the model is the consideration of the triple phase boundary as a distinct layer. The model is capable of predicting the cell performance including polarisation behaviour and power output. The model is used to study the effect of the support structure, geometric parameters and the effect of operating conditions on cell performance. Several parametric studies include the effect of operating conditions and geometric parameters on cell performance with a view to optimising the cell. The simulation results showed that the anode supported SOFC displayed the best performance with the activation and ohmic overpotentials being responsible for most of the voltage losses in the cell.

Investigation and optimization of high-valent Ta-doped SrFeO_(3-δ)as air electrode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

To explore highly active and thermomechanical stable air electrodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells(ITSOFCs),10mol%Ta5+doped in the B site of strontium ferrite perovskite oxide(SrTa_(0.1)Fe_(0.9)O_(3-δ),STF)is investigated and optimized.The effects of Ta^(5+)doping on structure,transition metal reduction,oxygen nonstoichiometry,thermal expansion,and electrical performance are evaluated systematically.Via 10mol%Ta^(5+)doping,the thermal expansion coefficient(TEC)decreased from 34.1×10^(-6)(SrFeO_(3-δ))to 14.6×10^(-6) K^(-1)(STF),which is near the TEC of electrolyte(13.3×10^(-6) K^(-1) for Sm_(0.2)Ce_(0.8)O_(1.9),SDC),indicates excellent thermomechanical compatibility.At 550-750℃,STF shows superior oxygen vacancy concentrations(0.262 to 0.331),which is critical in the oxygen-reduction reaction(ORR).Oxygen temperature-programmed desorption(O_(2)-TPD)indicated the thermal reduction onset temperature of iron ion is around 420℃,which matched well with the inflection points on the thermos-gravimetric analysis and electrical conductivity curves.At 600℃,the STF electrode shows area-specific resistance(ASR)of 0.152Ω·cm^(2) and peak power density(PPD)of 749 mW·cm^(-2).ORR activity of STF was further improved by introducing 30wt%Sm_(0.2)Ce_(0.8)O_(1.9)(SDC)powder,STF+SDC composite cathode achieving outstanding ASR value of 0.115Ω·cm2 at 600℃,even comparable with benchmark cobalt-containing cathode,Ba_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)Co_(0.8)Fe_(0.2)O_(3-δ)(BSCF).Distribution of relaxation time(DRT)analysis revealed that the oxygen surface exchange and bulk diffusion were improved by forming a composite cathode.At 650℃,STF+SDC composite cathode achieving an outstanding PPD of 1117 mW·cm^(-2).The excellent results suggest that STF and STF+SDC are promising air electrodes for IT-SOFCs.

Boosting oxygen reduction activity and CO_(2) resistance on bismuth ferrite-based perovskite cathode for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells below 600℃

Developing efficient and stable cathodes for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells(LT-SOFCs) is of great importance for the practical commercialization.Herein,we propose a series of Sm-modified Bi_(0.7-x)Sm_xSr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ) perovskites as highly-active catalysts for LT-SOFCs.Sm doping can significantly enhance the electrocata lytic activity and chemical stability of cathode.At 600℃,Bi_(0.675)Sm_(0.025)Sr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ)(BSSF25) cathode has been found to be the optimum composition with a polarization resistance of 0.098 Ω cm^2,which is only around 22.8% of Bi_(0.7)Sr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ)(BSF).A full cell utilizing BSSF25 displays an exceptional output density of 790 mW cm^(-2),which can operate continuously over100 h without obvious degradation.The remarkable electrochemical performance observed can be attributed to the improved O_(2) transport kinetics,superior surface oxygen adsorption capacity,as well as O_(2)p band centers in close proximity to the Fermi level.Moreover,larger average bonding energy(ABE) and the presence of highly acidic Bi,Sm,and Fe ions restrict the adsorption of CO_(2) on the cathode surface,resulting in excellent CO_(2) resistivity.This work provides valuable guidance for systematic design of efficient and durable catalysts for LT-SOFCs.

Recent progresses in the development of tubular segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells:Experimental and numerical study

Solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs)have attracted a great deal of interest because they have the highest efficiency without using any noble metal as catalysts among all the fuel cell technologies.However,traditional SOFCs suffer from having a higher volume,current leakage,complex connections,and difficulty in gas sealing.To solve these problems,Rolls-Royce has fabricated a simple design by stacking cells in series on an insulating porous support,resulting in the tubular segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells(SIS-SOFCs),which achieved higher output voltage.This work systematically reviews recent advances in the structures,preparation methods,perform-ances,and stability of tubular SIS-SOFCs in experimental and numerical studies.Finally,the challenges and future development of tubular SIS-SOFCs are also discussed.The findings of this work can help guide the direction and inspire innovation of future development in this field.

Interface engineering of an electrospun nanofiber-based composite cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Sluggish oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)kinetics are a major obstacle to developing intermediate-temperature solid-oxide fuel cells(IT-SOFCs).In particular,engineering the anion defect concentration at an interface between the cathode and electrolyte is important for facilitating ORR kinetics and hence improving the electrochemical performance.We developed the yttria-stabilized zirconia(YSZ)nanofiber(NF)-based composite cathode,where the oxygen vacancy concentration is controlled by varying the dopant cation(Y2O3)ratio in the YSZ NFs.The composite cathode with the optimized oxygen vacancy concentration exhibits maximum power densities of 2.66 and 1.51 W cm^(−2)at 700 and 600℃,respectively,with excellent thermal stability at 700℃ over 500 h under 1.0 A cm^(−2).Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and distribution of relaxation time analysis revealed that the high oxygen vacancy concentration in the NF-based scaffold facilitates the charge transfer and incorporation reaction occurred at the interfaces between the cathode and electrolyte.Our results demonstrate the high feasibility and potential of interface engineering for achieving IT-SOFCs with higher performance and stability.

From concept to commercialization:A review of tubular solid oxide fuel cell technology

The reduced sealing difficulty of tubular solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs)makes the stacking of tubular cell groups relatively easy,and the thermal stress constraints during stack operation are smaller,which helps the stack to operate stably for a long time.The special design of tubular SOFC structures can completely solve the problem of high-temperature sealing,especially in the design of multiple single-cell series integrated into one tube,where each cell tube is equivalent to a small electric stack,with unique characteristics of high voltage and low current output,which can significantly reduce the ohmic polarization loss of tubular cells.This paper provides an overview of typical tubular SOFC structural designs both domestically and internationally.Based on the geometric structure of tubular SOFCs,they can be divided into bamboo tubes,bamboo flat tubes,single-section tubes,and single-section flat tube structures.Meanwhile,this article provides an overview of commonly used materials and preparation methods for tubular SOFCs,including commonly used materials and preparation methods for support and functional layers,as well as a comparison of commonly used preparation methods for microtubule SOFCs,It introduced the three most important parts of building a fuel cell stack:manifold,current collector,and ceramic adhesive,and also provided a detailed introduction to the power generation systems of different tubular SOFCs,Finally,the development prospects of tubular SOFCs were discussed.

Lattice Boltzmann simulation study of anode degradation in solid oxide fuel cells during the initial aging process

For present solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs),rapid performance degradation is observed in the initial aging process,and the dis-cussion of the degradation mechanism necessitates quantitative analysis.Herein,focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy was em-ployed to characterize and reconstruct the ceramic microstructures of SOFC anodes.The lattice Boltzmann method(LBM)simulation of multiphysical and electrochemical processes in the reconstructed models was performed.Two samples collected from industrial-size cells were characterized,including a reduced reference cell and a cell with an initial aging process.Statistical parameters of the reconstructed microstructures revealed a significant decrease in the active triple-phase boundary and Ni connectivity in the aged cell compared with the reference cell.The LBM simulation revealed that activity degradation is dominant compared with microstructural degradation during the initial aging process,and the electrochemical reactions spread to the support layer in the aged cell.The microstructural and activity de-gradations are attributed to Ni migration and coarsening.

Temperature Gradient Analyses of a Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Fueled by Methanol

Thermal management in solid oxide fuel cells(SOFC)is a critical issue due to non-uniform electrochemical reactions and convective fl ows within the cells.Therefore,a 2D mathematical model is established herein to investigate the thermal responses of a tubular methanol-fueled SOFC.Results show that unlike the low-temperature condition of 873 K,where the peak temperature gradient occurs at the cell center,it appears near the fuel inlet at 1073 K because of the rapid temperature rise induced by the elevated current density.Despite the large heat convection capacity,excessive air could not eff ectively eliminate the harmful temperature gradient caused by the large current density.Thus,optimal control of the current density by properly selecting the operating potential could generate a local thermal neutral state.Interestingly,the maximum axial temperature gradient could be reduced by about 18%at 973 K and 20%at 1073 K when the air with a 5 K higher temperature is supplied.Additionally,despite the higher electrochemical performance observed,the cell with a counter-fl ow arrange-ment featured by a larger hot area and higher maximum temperature gradients is not preferable for a ceramic SOFC system considering thermal durability.Overall,this study could provide insightful thermal information for the operating condition selection,structure design,and stability assessment of realistic SOFCs combined with their internal reforming process.

Advancements,strategies,and prospects of solid oxide electrolysis cells(SOECs):Towards enhanced performance and large-scale sustainable hydrogen production

Solid oxide electrolysis cells(SOECs)represent a crucial stride toward sustainable hydrogen generation,and this review explores their current scientific challenges,significant advancements,and potential for large-scale hydrogen production.In SOEC technology,the application of innovative fabrication tech-niques,doping strategies,and advanced materials has enhanced the performance and durability of these systems,although degradation challenges persist,implicating the prime focus for future advancements.Here we provide in-depth analysis of the recent developments in SOEC technology,including Oxygen-SOECs,Proton-SOECs,and Hybrid-SOECs.Specifically,Hybrid-SOECs,with their mixed ionic conducting electrolytes,demonstrate superior efficiency and the concurrent production of hydrogen and oxygen.Coupled with the capacity to harness waste heat,these advancements in SOEC technology present signif-icant promise for pilot-scale applications in industries.The review also highlights remarkable achieve-ments and potential reductions in capital expenditure for future SOEC systems,while elaborating on the micro and macro aspects of sOECs with an emphasis on ongoing research for optimization and scal-ability.It concludes with the potential of SOEC technology to meet various industrial energy needs and its significant contribution considering the key research priorities to tackle the global energy demands,ful-fillment,and decarbonization efforts.

Evaluation on Properties of CaO-BaO-B_2O_3-Al_2O_3-SiO_2 Glass-Ceramic Sealants for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

To develop suitable sealants for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells （IT-SOFC）, glass-ceramics based on the CaO-BaO-B203-AI203-Si02 system were studied. Coefficient of thermal expansion （CTE）, glass transition temperature （Tg） and dilatometric softening point temperature （Td） of specimens were determined by means of dilatometer analysis and crystallization temperature was measured by differential thermal analysis （DTA）. Also, crystallization behavior during prolonged heat-treatment and microstructure properties were studied by means of X-ray diffraction （XRD） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, respectively. Electrical properties were measured at different temperatures, and the results showed a high resistance （〉104 Ω） at the SOFC operation temperature （600-800 ℃）. Moreover, mechanical properties of heat-treated specimens （1, 10, 30, 50 h） were measured, Microstructure investigation revealed a well-adhered bonding between the sealant glass-ceramic electrolyte and glass.

Pervoskite-type Bao.sSro.sAl0.1Fe0.9O3-δ as Intermediate-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathode

A cobalt-free perovskite-type Ba0.5Sr0.5A10.1Fe0.9O3-δ （BSAF） chemically studied as solid oxide fuel cell （SOFC） cathode. The ductivity, and electrode polarizations in symmetrical cell based is developed and electro- structures, electrical con- on mixed ion conducting electrolyte were investigated, respectively. The temperature dependence of conductivity of BSAF in air shows a typical semiconductor behavior with positive temperature coefficient up to 450℃ where the conductivity reaches 14.0 S/cm while above this temperature the negative temperature coefficient dominates the total conductivity. Electrochemical charac- terizations show desirable polarization resistance of BSAF cathode in a symmetric cell based on mixed ion conducting electrolyte at 650-700℃, A single SOFC with BSAF cathode shows OCV of 1.0 V and maximum output of 420 mW/cm2 at 700 ℃ with humidified hydrogen fuel and static air oxidant.

Radio-frequency magnetron sputtered thin-film La_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)Co_(0.95)Nb_(0.05)O_(3-δ) perovskite electrodes for intermediate temperature symmetric solid oxide fuel cell(IT-SSOFC)

The present work explores the application of La_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)Co_(0.95)Nb_(0.05)O_(3-δ)(LSCNO)perovskite as electrode material for the symmetric solid oxide fuel cell.Symmetric solid oxide fuel cells of thin-film LSCNO electrodes were prepared to study the oxygen reduction reaction at intermediate temperature.The Rietveld refinement of syn-thesized material shows a hexagonal structure with the R-3c space group of the prepared perovskite material.Lattice parameter and fractional coordinates were utilized to calculate the oxygen ion diffusion coefficient for molecular dynamic simulation.At 973 K,the oxygen ion diffusion of LSCNO was 1.407×10^(-8)cm^(2)s^(-1) higher by order of one magnitude than that of the La_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)Co_(0.95)Nb_(0.05)O_(3-δ)(7.751×10^(-9)cm^(2)^(-1)).The results suggest that the Nb doping provide the structural stability which improves oxygen anion diffusion.The enhanced structural stability was analysed by the thermal expansion coefficient calculated experimentally and from molecular dynamics simulations.Furthermore,the density functional theory calculation revealed the role of Nb dopant for oxygen vacancy formation energy at Sr-0 and La-O planes is lower than the undoped structure.To understand the rate-limiting process for sluggish oxygen diffusion kinetics,80 nm and 40 nm thin films were fabricated using radio frequency magnetron sputtering on gadolinium doped ceria electrolyte substrate.The impedance was observed to increase with an increasing thickness,suggesting the bulk diffusion as a rate-limiting step for oxygen ion diffu-sion.The electrochemical performance was analysed for the thin-flm symmetric solid oxide fuel cell,which achieved a peak power density of 390 mW cm^(-2) at 1.02 V in the presence of H_(2) fuel on the anode side and air on the cathode side.

Effects of operating conditions on the performance degradation and anode microstructure evolution of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells

Performance degradation shortens the life of solid oxide fuel cells in practical applications.Revealing the degradation mechanism is crucial for the continuous improvement of cell durability.In this work,the effects of cell operating conditions on the terminal voltage and anode microstructure of a Ni-yttria-stabilized zirconia anode-supported single cell were investigated.The microstructure of the anode active area near the electrolyte was characterized by laser optical microscopy and focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy.Ni depletion at the anode/electrolyte interface region was observed after 100 h discharge tests.In addition,the long-term stability of the single cell was evaluated at 700℃for 3000 h.After an initial decline,the anode-supported single cell exhibits good durability with a voltage decay rate of 0.72%/kh and an electrode polarization resistance decay rate of 0.17%/kh.The main performance loss of the cell originates from the initial degradation.

Recent advances and influencing parameters in developing electrode materials for symmetrical solid oxide fuel cells

This article delivers a robust overview of potential electrode materials for use in symmetrical solid oxide fuel cells(S-SOFCs),a relatively new SOFC technology.To this end,this article provides a comprehensive review of recent advances and progress in electrode materials for S-SOFC,discussing both the selection of materials and the challenges that come with making that choice.This article discussed the relevant factors involved in developing electrodes with nano/microstructure.Nanocomposites,e.g.,non-cobalt and lithiated materials,are only a few of the electrode types now being researched.Furthermore,the phase structure and microstructure of the produced materials are heavily influenced by the synthesis procedure.Insights into the possibilities and difficulties of the material are discussed.To achieve the desired microstructural features,this article focuses on a synthesis technique that is either the most recent or a better iteration of an existing process.The portion of this analysis that addresses the risks associated with manufacturing and the challenges posed by materials when fabricating S-SOFCs is the most critical.This article also provides important and useful recommendations for the strategic design of electrode materials researchers.

Fabrication of Gd_(2)O_(3)-doped CeO_(2)thin films through DC reactive sputtering and their application in solid oxide fuel cells

Physical vapor deposition(PVD)can be used to produce high-quality Gd_(2)O_(3)-doped CeO2(GDC)films.Among various PVD methods,reactive sputtering provides unique benefits,such as high deposition rates and easy upscaling for industrial applications.GDC thin films were successfully fabricated through reactive sputtering using a Gd_(0.2)Ce_(0.8)(at%)metallic target,and their application in solid oxide fuel cells,such as buffer layers between yttria-stabilized zirconia(YSZ)/La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O_(3−δ)and as sublayers in the steel/coating system,was evaluated.First,the direct current(DC)reactive-sputtering behavior of the GdCe metallic target was determined.Then,the GDC films were deposited on NiO-YSZ/YSZ half-cells to investigate the influence of oxygen flow rate on the quality of annealed GDC films.The results demonstrated that reactive sputtering can be used to prepare thin and dense GDC buffer layers without high-temperature sintering.Furthermore,the cells with a sputtered GDC buffer layer showed better electrochemical performance than those with a screen-printed GDC buffer layer.In addition,the insertion of a GDC sublayer between the SUS441 interconnects and the Mn-Co spinel coatings contributed to the reduction of the oxidation rate for SUS441 at operating temperatures,according to the area-specific resistance tests.

Composite Cathode Bi_(1.14)Sr_(0.43)O_(2.14)-Ag for Intermediate-temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Composites consisting of strontium stabilized bismuth oxide （Bi1.14Sr0.43O2.14, SSB） and silver were investigated as cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells with doped ceria electrolyte. There were no chemical reactions between the two components. The microstructure of the interfaces between composite cathodes and Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 （SDC） electrolytes was examined by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. Impedance spectroscopy measurements show that the performance of cathode fired at 700 ℃ is the best. When the content of Ag2O is 70 wt%, polarization resistance values for the SSB-Ag cathodes are as low as 0.2 Ωcm^2 at 700℃ and 0.29 Ωcm^2 at 650℃. These results are much smaller than some of other reported composite cathodes on doped ceria electrolyte and indicate that SSB-Ag composite is a potential cathode material for intermediate temperature SOFCs.