Development of Ceramic Materials and Application of Novel Physical Analysis Methods to Enhance Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells

Different physical (FIB-TOF-SIMS, SXAS, XRD, high-temperature XRD under electrochemical working conditions, FIBSEM-EDX, AFM, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, BET) and electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance) methods have been applied for detailed analysis of solid oxide fuel cell materials. Single solid oxide fuel and co-electrolysis cells based on Ni-free anodes/cathodes as well as Ni-Ce0.9Gd0.1O2-delta or Ni-Zr0.9Y0.08O2-delta supporting anodes/cathodes, bilayered Zr0.92Y0.08O2-delta vertical bar Ce0.9Gd0.1O2-delta orZr(0.94)Sc(0.06)O(2-delta )vertical bar Ce(0.9)Gd(0.1)O(2-delta )electrolytes and micro-meso-porous La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-delta, Gd0.6Sr0.4CoO3-delta, La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta or Pr0.6Sr0.4CoO3-delta cathodes/anodes, respectively, have been studied. For preparation of electrodes and electrolytes, various nano-microporous powders, different sintering temperatures and pore former additions in the raw cathode and anode pastes have been applied. Ni-free anodes/cathodes have been synthesized using the impregnation method and tested at temperatures from 650 to 800 degrees C. Influence of the electrodes porosity, chemical composition and also of the bi-layered electrolyte properties on the power density of the SOFC and SOEC single cells has been established and analyzed. The synchrotron radiation based X-ray absorption spectroscopy under electrochemical polarization and different fuel feeding (pressure, gas flow rate, etc.), chemical composition (H2S) and other sulphur containing compounds, halides, etc.) and temperature cycling conditions has been applied for chemical analysis of surface composition of the SOFC anodes.