Apparatus for operando x-ray diffraction of fuel electrodes in high temperature solid oxide electrochemical cells

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Operando characterization is crucial for understanding electrochemical devices.
• High temperatures and reactive atmospheres in solid oxide electrochemical cells (SOECs) pose challenges for operando techniques.
• Previous methods lacked the capability for operando X-ray diffraction on SOEC fuel electrodes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the first experimental apparatus for operando X-ray diffraction on SOEC fuel electrodes.
• To demonstrate the capability of collecting diffraction data under operating conditions.
• To enable deeper understanding of SOEC degradation mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel experimental apparatus.
• Performing operando X-ray diffraction on a model SOEC.
• Operating the cell at high temperatures in humidified H2 gas atmosphere.

Main Results:

• Successfully collected X-ray diffraction patterns from the fuel electrode during SOEC operation.
• Demonstrated the apparatus's ability to function under demanding high-temperature, reducing gas conditions.
• Provided initial data showcasing the potential for in-situ material analysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed apparatus overcomes previous limitations in SOEC operando characterization.
• This technique offers new insights into degradation mechanisms of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and SOEC.
• Enables the design of more durable and high-performance electrochemical energy conversion devices.