Nanoionics and Nanocatalysts: Conformal Mesoporous Surface Scaffold for Cathode of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Chen, Yun; Gerdes, Kirk; Song, Xueyan

doi:10.1038/srep32997

Nanoionics and Nanocatalysts: Conformal Mesoporous Surface Scaffold for Cathode of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Journal Article · Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Scientific Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/srep32997· OSTI ID:1477847

Chen, Yun ^[1]; Gerdes, Kirk ^[2]; Song, Xueyan ^[1]

West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)
National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Morgantown, WV (United States)

Nanoionics has become increasingly important in devices and systems related to energy conversion and storage. Nevertheless, nanoionics and nanostructured electrodes development has been challenging for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) owing to many reasons including poor stability of the nanocrystals during fabrication of SOFCs at elevated temperatures. In this study, a conformal mesoporous ZrO₂ nanoionic network was formed on the surface of La_1–xSr_xMnO₃/yttria-stabilized zirconia (LSM/YSZ) cathode backbone using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and thermal treatment. The surface layer nanoionic network possesses open mesopores for gas penetration, and features a high density of grain boundaries for enhanced ion-transport. The mesoporous nanoionic network is remarkably stable and retains the same morphology after electrochemical operation at high temperatures of 650–800 °C for 400 hours. The stable mesoporous ZrO₂ nanoionic network is further utilized to anchor catalytic Pt nanocrystals and create a nanocomposite that is stable at elevated temperatures. As a result, the power density of the ALD modified and inherently functional commercial cells exhibited enhancement by a factor of 1.5–1.7 operated at 0.8 V at 750 °C.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Morgantown, WV (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

OSTI ID:: 1477847

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 6; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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