Ageing of solid oxide fuel cells based on zirconia or other oxide electrolytes

This work concerns the ageing of solid oxide fuel cells in operative conditions due to matter transport processes, which occur in the electrolyte and oxide electrode material cationic sublattice. The surface stability and kinetic demixing processes in presence of chemical potential gradients through the materials are reviewed. Available experimental results concerning yttria-doped zirconia and iono-covalent oxides are reported. These results are discussed in relation with the microstructure and composition changes near the electrolyte-electrode material interfaces.