Fundamental Impact of Humidity on SOFC Cathode ORR

Huang, Y. L.; Pellegrinelli, C.; Wachsman, E. D.

doi:10.1149/2.0221603jes

Fundamental Impact of Humidity on SOFC Cathode ORR

Journal Article · Thu Dec 17 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0221603jes· OSTI ID:1438527

Huang, Y. L. ^[1]; Pellegrinelli, C. ^[2]; Wachsman, E. D. ^[2]

Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States). Univ. of Maryland Energy Research Center (UMERC); University of Maryland
Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States). Univ. of Maryland Energy Research Center (UMERC)

Although solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) have demonstrated excellent performance, the durability of SOFCs under real working conditions is still an issue for commercial deployment. In particular cathode exposure to atmospheric air contaminants, such as humidity, can result in long-term performance degradation issues. Therefore, a fundamental understanding of the interaction between water molecules and cathodes is essential to resolve this issue and further enhance cathode durability. In order to study the effects of humidity on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), we used in-situ ¹⁸O isotope exchange techniques to probe the exchange of water with two of themost common SOFC cathode materials, (La_0.8Sr_0.2)_0.95MnO_3±δ (LSM) and La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3-δ (LSCF). In this experiment, heavy water, D₂O (with a mass/charge ratio of m/z = 20), is used to avoid the overlapping of H₂O and the ¹⁸O₂ cracking fraction, which both provide a peak at m/z = 18. A series of temperature programmed isotope exchange measurements were performed to comprehensively study the interaction of water with the cathode surface as a function of temperature, oxygen partial pressure, and water vapor concentration. The results suggest that water and O₂ share the same surface exchange sites, leading to competitive adsorption. Our findings show that water prefers to exchange with LSCF at lower temperatures, around 300–450°C. For LSM, O₂ is more favorable than water to be adsorbed on the surface and the presence of O₂ limits water exchange. The experimental data are summarized in a Temperature-PO₂ diagram to help visualize how the exchange of water on each material depends on the operating conditions.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, and Morgantown, WV (United States); Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0009084

OSTI ID:: 1438527

Journal Information:: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 163; ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:: The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Fundamental Impact of Humidity on SOFC Cathode ORR

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