Layer-structured triple-conducting electrocatalyst for water-splitting in protonic ceramic electrolysis cells: Conductivities vs. activity

Li, Wenyuan; Guan, Bo; Yang, Tao; Li, Zhongqiu; Shi, Wangying; Tian, Hanchen; Ma, Liang; Kalapos, Thomas L.; Liu, Xingbo

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.229764

Layer-structured triple-conducting electrocatalyst for water-splitting in protonic ceramic electrolysis cells: Conductivities vs. activity

Journal Article · Tue Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Journal of Power Sources

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.229764· OSTI ID:2479427

Li, Wenyuan ^[1]; Guan, Bo ^[1]; Yang, Tao ^[2]; Li, Zhongqiu ^[3]; Shi, Wangying ^[1]; ^[1]; Ma, Liang ^[4]; Kalapos, Thomas L. ^[2]; ^[1]

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV (United States)
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Morgantown, WV (United States); Leidos Research Support Team, Morgantown, WV (United States)
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV (United States); Harbin Normal University (China)
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV (United States); Hebei University of Engineering, Handan (China)

Electron, proton and oxygen-triple-conducting materials are becoming the dominant steam electrode candidate to break the rate limit on the water-splitting reaction that throttles the performance of protonic ceramic electrolysis cells (PCECs). In this study, based on Pr₂NiO_4+δ Ruddlesden-Popper phase, we manipulate these conductivities by Pr-site Ba substitution to probe the correlation of each conductivity with the kinetics of the elementary reaction steps. It is found that the proton conductivity is vital to sustain an extended active surface area for faster adsorption of reactants and desorption of products. The effect of oxygen conductivity is surprisingly found insignificant in the water-splitting reaction. On the contrary, surface oxygen removal is discovered as the most rate-limiting process. The electronic conductivity is not a direct limiting factor. However, an electron transfer process between the current collector and the electrode junction could introduce extra resistance that is perceptible at a high operating temperature range. The best water-splitting activity is obtained on a proton conductivity/oxygen surface desorption capability well-balanced sample after Ba substitution. As a result, a water-splitting reaction resistance of 0.022 Ωcm², a current density of 1.96 A/cm² at 700 °C is achieved on Pr_1.7Ba_0.3NiO_4+δ, one of the best performances for PCECs.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008378

OSTI ID:: 2479427

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1782366

Journal Information:: Journal of Power Sources, Journal Name: Journal of Power Sources Vol. 495; ISSN 0378-7753

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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