Nanofiber Composites as Highly Active and Robust Anodes for Direct-Hydrocarbon Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

Direct utilization of methane fuels in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is a key technology to realize the immediate inclusion of such high-efficiency fuel cells into the current electricity generation infrastructure. However, the broad commercialization of direct-methane fueled SOFCs is critically hindered by the inadequate electrode activity and their poor longevity, which primarily stems from the carbon build-up issues. To make the technology more competitive, a novel electrode structure that can dramatically improve the tolerance against coking is essential. Herein, we present highly active and robust core-shell nanofiber anodes, La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.5Mn0.5O3@Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (LSCM@SDC), directly obtained with a single-nozzle electrospinning process through the use of two immiscible polymers. The intimate coverage of SDC on LSCM not only increases the active reaction sites but also promotes resistance toward carbon deposition and thermal aggregation. As such, the electrode polarization resistance obtained with LSCM@SDC NFs is among the lowest value ever reported with LSCM derivatives (∼0.11 Ω cm2 in wet H2 at 800 °C). The facile fabrication process of such complex heterostructures developed in this work is attractive for the design of not only SOFC electrodes but also other solid-state devices such as electrolysis cells, membrane reformers, and protonic cells.

Hydration of Proton-conducting BaCe0.9Y0.1O3-δ by Decoupled Mass Transport.

Mass relaxation profile of a perovskite-type oxide, BaCe0.9Y0.1O3-δ, was studied to understand decoupled diffusion of oxygen and hydrogen species during hydration/dehydration. The mass relaxation measurements are performed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under various humidity conditions (Dry, -3.0 ≤ log(pH2O/atm) ≤ -1.6) at a constant oxygen partial pressure (log(pO2/atm) = -1.00 ± 0.01). The decoupled ions participated in hydration/dehydration reactions were proven to be at different ratios from the result introduced by the 8R m function. The enthalpy and entropy of non-stoichiometric hydration reaction, which considers each ratio of charge-carrier species, were -144.7 ± 3.7 kJ/mol and -147.8 ± 3.2 J/mol · K, respectively.

Spatial Distribution of Oxygen Chemical Potential under Potential Gradients and Theoretical Maximum Power Density with 8YSZ Electrolyte.

The maximum power density of SOFC with 8YSZ electrolyte as the function of thickness was calculated by integrating partial conductivities of charge carriers under various DC bias conditions at a fixed oxygen chemical potential gradient at both sides of the electrolyte. The partial conductivities were successfully taken using the Hebb-Wagner polarization method as a function of temperature and oxygen partial pressure, and the spatial distribution of oxygen partial pressure across the electrolyte was calculated based on Choudhury and Patterson's model by considering zero electrode polarization. At positive voltage conditions corresponding to SOFC and SOEC, the high conductivity region was expanded, but at negative cell voltage condition, the low conductivity region near n-type to p-type transition was expanded. In addition, the maximum power density calculated from the current-voltage characteristic showed approximately 5.76 W/cm(2) at 700 (o)C with 10 µm thick-8YSZ, while the oxygen partial pressure of the cathode and anode sides maintained ≈0.21 and 10(-22) atm.