Evolution of 2PB/3PB Transport Pathways in Oxygen Electrodes during Degradation Test: A Perspective from Electro-Chemo-Mechanical Coupling on Microstructures
Authors: Jin Xinfang , Jayapragasam Puvikkarasan , Shoukry Yasser , Wen Yeting , Huang Kevin 
Published: August 2024

The solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) has garnered significant attention over the past decades for hydrogen generation integrated with intermittent renewable energy [1]. However, a major hurdle in the commercialization of SOEC is cell degradation when operated beyond 1000 hours [2]. SOEC degrades two times more quickly than the same cell operated in fuel cell mode [3]. Perovskite oxygen electrodes (OEs), such as La1-xSrxCo1-yFeyO3-δ (LSCF), exhibit flexible oxygen stoichiometry [4-6] depending on the operating conditions. The delamination failure in perovskite OEs arises from a mismatch between the slower O2 evolution rate at the surface and the rapid O2 current in the bulk from the electrolyte (EL), which causes variations in oxygen stoichiometry. This variation in oxygen stoichiometry enhances bonding, contracts lattice volume, and leads to chemical stress at the OE/EL interface [7].

In this research, we aim to construct an electro-chemo-mechanically coupled model with synthetic microstructures (Fig.1a) to explore the intricate interactions between delamination at the OE/EL interface and oxygen ion transport pathway evolution. The Dream 3D software will be utilized for microstructure generation, Matlab for mesh preparation, and Comsol for Multiphysics simulation. We will examine two OE configurations known for achieving high electrocatalytic activity [8]: single layer and bilayer OEs . For the single layer configuration, La0.6Sr0.4Co0.4Fe0.6O3 (LSCF) [9, 10] serves as the sole electrode material. For bilayer OEs, we incorporate SrTa0.1Co0.9O3 (SCT) [11, 12] as the capping layer for electrocatalytic activity, with LSCF acting as the supporting backbone. The evolution of two transport pathways (Fig.1b&c), double phase boundary (2PB) and tripe phase boundary (3PB), in different configurations during long-term degradation tests will be evaluated by coupling the models with experimental polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectra. The investigations will focus on the effects of delamination resulting from lattice volume variations on shifting of transport pathways (Fig.1d) in different OE configurations.

References

Nechache, A. and S. Hody, Alternative and innovative solid oxide electrolysis cell materials: A short review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2021. 149.

Rashkeev, S.N. and M.V. Glazoff, Atomic-scale mechanisms of oxygen electrode delamination in solid oxide electrolyzer cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2012. 37(2): p. 1280-1291.

Moçoteguy, P. and A. Brisse, A review and comprehensive analysis of degradation mechanisms of solid oxide electrolysis cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2013. 38(36): p. 15887-15902.

Adler, S.B., Chemical Expansivity of Electrochemical Ceramics. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 2001. 84(9): p. 2117-2119.

Atkinson, A. and T.M.G.M. Ramos, Chemically-induced stresses in ceramic oxygen ion-conducting membranes. Solid State Ionics, 2000. 129(1): p. 259-269.

Bishop, S.R., K.L. Duncan, and E.D. Wachsman, Defect equilibria and chemical expansion in non-stoichiometric undoped and gadolinium-doped cerium oxide. Electrochimica Acta, 2009. 54(5): p. 1436-1443.

Cook, K., J. Wrubel, Z. Ma, K. Huang, and X. Jin, Modeling Electrokinetics of Oxygen Electrodes in Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cells. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2021. 168(11): p. 114510.

Laguna-Bercero, M.A., H. Monzón, A. Larrea, and V.M. Orera, Improved stability of reversible solid oxide cells with a nickelate-based oxygen electrode. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2016. 4(4): p. 1446-1453.

Mogensen, M.B., M. Chen, H.L. Frandsen, C. Graves, J.B. Hansen, K.V. Hansen, A. Hauch, T. Jacobsen, S.H. Jensen, T.L. Skafte, and X. Sun, Reversible solid-oxide cells for clean and sustainable energy. Clean Energy, 2019. 3(3): p. 175-201.

Jiang, S.P., Challenges in the development of reversible solid oxide cell technologies: a mini review. Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2016. 11(3): p. 386-391.

Huang, K. and Y. Wen, Electrochemical Performance of New Bilayer Oxygen Electrode for Reversible Solid Oxide Cells. ECS Meeting Abstracts, 2021. MA2021-03(1): p. 138-138.

Huang, K., Method to Make Isostructural Bilayer Oxygen Electrode. 2020, University of South Carolina: US.

Figure 1