Effect of Electrolyte Surface Microstructure on Interfacial Polarization Resistances of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes

doi:10.15541/jim20140160

Abstract

Abstract:

The interfacial polarization resistance (R_c) associated with cathode in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is affected by the electrolyte conductivity. In this work, the effect of electrolyte surface microstructure on the cathode performance was demonstrated by analyzing electrochemical impedance spectra of symmetric cells which consist of porous (La_0.85Sr_0.15)_0.9MnO_3-_δ (LSM) and La_0.6Sr_0.4Fe_0.8Co_0.2O_3-_δ (LSCF) electrodes with Sm_0.2Ce_0.8O_2-_δ (SDC) electrolytes. The SDC electrolytes exhibited different surface microstructures, i.e. different grain sizes and grain boundary densities as a result of various sintering conditions. SEM was used to investigate the SDC surface microstructure parameters and the relationships between these parameters and the polarization resistance ware discussed. It is found that R_cis greatly affected by the SDC surface microstructures and decreases with the decrease of grain size, or the increase of grain-boundary density. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the oxygen ion transfer is significantly increased by decreasing grain size for the oxygen reduction at the LSM cathode.

Key words: cathode, interfacial polarization resistance, grain-boundary density, electrolyte microstructure, solidoxide fuel cell

CLC Number:

TQ174

SONG Shu-Xiang, WANG Yun-Long, XIA Chang-Rong. Effect of Electrolyte Surface Microstructure on Interfacial Polarization Resistances of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2014, 29(12): 1253-1256.

Figures/Tables 5

Fig. 1 Surface morphologies of SDC electrolytes sintered under different conditions (a) 1350℃/5 h; (b) 1450℃/5 h; (c)1550℃/5 h; (d)1550℃/15 h

Table 1 Average grain size, grain-boundary density, conductivity at 750℃ for SDC electrolytes sintered at different conditions

Sintering condition	1350℃/5 h	1450℃/5 h	1550℃/5 h	1550℃/15 h
Conductivity/ (S?cm^-1)	0.0380	0.0355	0.0348	0.0305
Grain size/μm	0.83	1.51	4.89	7.49
Grain-boundary density/μm^-1	1.20	0.66	0.23	0.18

Fig. 2 Electro-performance of the symmetrical cells with single phase LSM as the electrodes (a) Impedance spectrum measured at 750℃; (b) Equivalent circuit used to fit the impedance

Fig. 3 Interfacial polarization resistances versus grain size (a) Resistance at various temperatures; (b) Resistance at 750℃ for the high and low frequency arcs

Fig. 4 Electro-performance of symmetrical cells with single phase LSCF as the electrodes (a-b) Impedance spectra at 750℃ for SDC sintered at different conditions and (c) Rc versus grain size of SDC

References 7

[1]	HONG TAO, WANG YAO, XIA CHANG-RONG. Nano-structure effect on solid state fuel cells cathode durability. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2013, 28(11): 1187-1194.
[2]	XU XING-YANG, JIANG ZHI-YI, FAN XING, et al. LSM-SDC electrodes fabricated with an ion-imprognating process for SOFCs with doped ceria electrolytes. Solid State Ionics, 2006, 177(19-25): 2113-2117.
[3]	HIBINO T, HASHIMOTO A, INOUE T, et al.A low-operating- temperature solid oxide fuel cell in hydrocarbon-air mixtures. Science , 2000, 288(5473): 2031-2033.
[4]	WANG YUN-LONG, WANG YAO, XIA CHANG-RONG. Surface process of doped ceria reduction by electrical conductivity relaxation. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2012, 159(9): F570-F576.
[5]	STEELE B C H, HORI K M, UCHINO S. Kinetic parameters influencing the performance of IT-SOFC composite electrodes. Solid State Ionics, 2000, 135(1-4): 445-450.
[6]	RAJ I A, NESARAJ A S, KUMAR M, et al.On the suitability of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 cathode for the intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC). J. New Mat. Electr. Sys., 2004, 7(2): 145-151.
[7]	ADLER S B.Factors governing oxygen reduction in solid oxide fuel cell cathodes. Chemical Reviews, 2004, 104(10): 4791-4843.

[1]	XUE Ke, CAI Changkun, XIE Manyi, LI Shuting, AN Shengli. Pr₁₊_xBa_1-_xFe₂O₅₊_δ Cathode Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Preparation and Electrochemical Performance [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(4): 363-371.
[2]	ZHU Zhijie, SHEN Mingyuan, WU Tao, LI Wencui. Inhibition of P2-O2 Phase Transition for P2-Na_2/3Ni_1/3Mn_2/3O₂ as Cathode of Sodium-ion Battery via Synergetic Substitution of Cu and Mg [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(2): 184-195.
[3]	WANG Kunpeng, LIU Zhaolin, LIN Cunsheng, WANG Zhiyu. Development of Quasi-solid-state Na-ion Battery Based on Water-minimal Prussian Blue Cathode [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2024, 39(9): 1005-1012.
[4]	ZHANG Kun, WANG Yu, ZHU Tenglong, SUN Kaihua, HAN Minfang, ZHONG Qin. LaNi_0.6Fe_0.4O₃ Cathode Contact Material: Electrical Conducting Property Manipulation and Its Effect on SOFC Electrochemical Performance [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2024, 39(4): 367-373.
[5]	CHENG Jie, ZHOU Yue, LUO Xintao, GAO Meiting, LUO Sifei, CAI Danmin, WU Xueyin, ZHU Licai, YUAN Zhongzhi. Construction and Electrochemical Properties of Yolk-shell Structured FeF₃·0.33H₂O@N-doped Graphene Nanoboxes [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2024, 39(3): 299-305.
[6]	CHEN Zhengpeng, JIN Fangjun, LI Mingfei, DONG Jiangbo, XU Renci, XU Hanzhao, XIONG Kai, RAO Muming, CHEN Chuangting, LI Xiaowei, LING Yihan. Double Perovskite Sr₂CoFeO₅₊_δ: Preparation and Performance as Cathode Material for Intermediate-temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2024, 39(3): 337-344.
[7]	ZHOU Jingyu, LI Xingyu, ZHAO Xiaolin, WANG Youwei, SONG Erhong, LIU Jianjun. Rate and Cycling Performance of Ti and Cu Doped β-NaMnO₂ as Cathode of Sodium-ion Battery [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2024, 39(12): 1404-1412.
[8]	KONG Guoqiang, LENG Mingzhe, ZHOU Zhanrong, XIA Chi, SHEN Xiaofang. Sb Doped O3 Type Na_0.9Ni_0.5Mn_0.3Ti_0.2O₂ Cathode Material for Na-ion Battery [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(6): 656-662.
[9]	GUO Tianmin, DONG Jiangbo, CHEN Zhengpeng, RAO Mumin, LI Mingfei, LI Tian, LING Yihan. Enhanced Compatibility and Activity of High-entropy Double Perovskite Cathode Material for IT-SOFC [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(6): 693-700.
[10]	YANG Zhuo, LU Yong, ZHAO Qing, CHEN Jun. X-ray Diffraction Rietveld Refinement and Its Application in Cathode Materials for Lithium-ion Batteries [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(6): 589-605.
[11]	TAN Shuyu, LIU Xiaoning, BI Zhijie, WAN Yong, GUO Xiangxin. Jointing of Cathode Coating and Interface Modification for Stabilizing Poly(ethylene oxide) Electrolytes Against High-voltage Cathodes [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(12): 1466-1474.
[12]	LI Tao, CAO Pengfei, HU Litao, XIA Yong, CHEN Yi, LIU Yuejun, SUN Aokui. NH₄⁺ Assisted Interlayer-expansion of MoS₂: Preparation and Its Zinc Storage Performance [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(1): 79-86.
[13]	WANG Yang, FAN Guangxin, LIU Pei, YIN Jinpei, LIU Baozhong, ZHU Linjian, LUO Chengguo. Microscopic Mechanism of K⁺ Doping on Performance of Lithium Manganese Cathode for Li-ion Battery [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2022, 37(9): 1023-1029.
[14]	ZHU Hezhen, WANG Xuanpeng, HAN Kang, YANG Chen, WAN Ruizhe, WU Liming, MAI Liqiang. Enhanced Lithium Storage Stability Mechanism of Ultra-high Nickel LiNi_0.91Co_0.06Al_0.03O₂@Ca₃(PO₄)₂ Cathode Materials [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2022, 37(9): 1030-1036.
[15]	CHEN Ying, LUAN Weiling, CHEN Haofeng, ZHU Xuanchen. Multi-scale Failure Behavior of Cathode in Lithium-ion Batteries Based on Stress Field [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2022, 37(8): 918-924.