Protonic ceramic electrochemical cells for hydrogen production and electricity generation: exceptional reversibility, stability, and demonstrated faradaic efficiency

Choi, Sihyuk; Davenport, Timothy C.; Haile, Sossina M.

doi:10.1039/c8ee02865f

Protonic ceramic electrochemical cells for hydrogen production and electricity generation: exceptional reversibility, stability, and demonstrated faradaic efficiency

Journal Article · Thu Dec 13 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Energy & Environmental Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/c8ee02865f· OSTI ID:1613625

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Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States); Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi (Korea, Republic of); DOE/OSTI
Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)

Here, we demonstrate exceptional performance for steam electrolysis at intermediate temperatures (500–650 °C) using protonic ceramic electrolyte cells comprised of the proton-permeable, high-activity mixed conductor PrBa_0.5Sr_0.5Co_1.5Fe_0.5O_5+δ (PBSCF) as the air electrode, the highly proton-conductive and chemically stable perovskite oxide BaZr_0.4Ce_0.4Y_0.1Yb_0.1O₃ (BZCYYb4411) as the electrolyte, and a composite of Ni–BZCYYb4411 as the fuel electrode. Cells constructed from this material set have been shown previously to function efficiently in fuel cell mode. We demonstrate here reversible operation, enabling hydrogen production when excess electricity is available and immediate electricity generation from stored hydrogen when power demand is high. The cells are stable under cyclic operation and also under prolonged continuous operation in electrolysis mode, undergoing minimal loss in electrochemical characteristics after 500 h at 550 °C. Microstructurally optimized cells yield a remarkable current density of -1.80 A cm^-2 at 600 °C and an operating voltage of 1.3 V, of which, based on an electrochemically deduced faradaic efficiency of 76%, -1.37 A cm^-2 contributes to useful hydrogen.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: United Technologies Corporation, Farmington, CT (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)

Grant/Contract Number:: AR0000498

OSTI ID:: 1613625

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1488346

Journal Information:: Energy & Environmental Science, Journal Name: Energy & Environmental Science Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 12; ISSN 1754-5692

Publisher:: Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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