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Title: Nanoparticle scaffolds for syngas-fed solid oxide fuel cells

Journal Article · · Journal of Materials Chemistry. A
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TA06029F· OSTI ID:1391637
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  1. Imperial College London, London (United Kingdom). Dept. of Earth Science & Engineering
  2. Imperial College London, London (United Kingdom). Dept. of Chemistry
  3. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Materials Science Div.
  4. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). X-ray Science Div.
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Incorporation of nanoparticles into devices such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) may provide benefits such as higher surface areas or finer control over microstructure. However, their use with traditional fabrication techniques such as screen-printing is problematic. Here, we show that mixing larger commercial particles with nanoparticles allows traditional ink formulation and screen-printing to be used while still providing benefits of nanoparticles such as increased porosity and lower sintering temperatures. SOFC anodes were produced by impregnating ceria–gadolinia (CGO) scaffolds with nickel nitrate solution. The scaffolds were produced from inks containing a mixture of hydrothermally-synthesised nanoparticle CGO, commercial CGO and polymeric pore formers. The scaffolds were heat-treated at either 1000 or 1300 °C, and were mechanically stable. In situ ultra-small X-ray scattering (USAXS) shows that the nanoparticles begin sintering around 900–1000 °C. Analysis by USAXS and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the low temperature heat-treated scaffolds possessed higher porosity. Impregnated scaffolds were used to produce symmetrical cells, with the lower temperature heat-treated scaffolds showing improved gas diffusion, but poorer charge transfer. Using these scaffolds, lower temperature heat-treated cells of Ni–CGO/200 μm YSZ/CGO-LSCF performed better at 700 °C (and below) in hydrogen, and performed better at all temperatures using syngas, with power densities of up to 0.15 W cm-2 at 800 °C. This approach has the potential to allow the use of a wider range of materials and finer control over microstructure.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22), Materials Sciences and Engineering Division
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1391637
Journal Information:
Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Vol. 3, Issue 6; ISSN 2050-7488
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 11 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (24)

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Cited By (2)

Progress and outlook for solid oxide fuel cells for transportation applications journal July 2019
Synthesis and characterization of nickel-doped ceria nanoparticles with improved surface reducibility journal January 2018

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