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Probing and Mapping Electrode Surfaces in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
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Tuning Electrochemical Performance by Microstructural Optimization of the Nanocrystalline Functional Oxygen Electrode
Bartosz Kamecki1,2, Grzegorz Cempura3, Piotr Jasiński2
1Advanced Materials Center, Faculty of Applied Physics and Mathematics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gabriela Narutowicza street 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|December 15, 2022
Summary
This study enhances solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) oxygen electrodes by adding a nanocrystalline lanthanum strontium cobaltite (LSC) interlayer. This interlayer significantly improves electrochemical performance and power density for better SOFC efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Conversion
Background:
- Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) require efficient oxygen electrodes for optimal performance.
- Microstructure miniaturization and nanomaterial implementation are key to improving SOFC oxygen electrodes.
- La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-d (LSCF) is a common cathode material, but its performance can be further enhanced.
Purpose of the Study:
- To improve the electrochemical performance of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-d (LSCF) cathodes in SOFCs.
- To investigate the effect of a nanocrystalline La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-d (LSC) interlayer on LSCF cathode performance.
- To analyze the rate-limiting processes affecting oxygen electrode performance.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of SOFCs with varying LSC interlayer thicknesses.
- Electrochemical characterization using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis.
- Performance evaluation under various operating conditions (temperature, oxygen partial pressure) and long-term stability testing.
Main Results:
- A 400 nm LSC interlayer reduced the polarization resistance of the LSCF cathode by one order of magnitude (from 0.77 to 0.076 Ω·cm2 at 600 °C).
- The LSC interlayer accelerated oxygen surface exchange kinetics and oxygen ion diffusion.
- Anode-supported fuel cells with the LSC interlayer showed a 20% increase in cell performance and reached a maximum power density of 820 mW·cm-2 at 700 °C.
Conclusions:
- Controlled introduction of a nanocrystalline LSC interlayer is an effective strategy to enhance SOFC oxygen electrode performance.
- The LSC interlayer significantly reduces polarization resistance by improving oxygen reduction reaction kinetics.
- This approach offers a promising pathway for developing high-performance intermediate-temperature SOFCs.
