Intermediate Temperature Proton‐Conducting Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells with Improved Performance and Durability

Technical Report · Sun Apr 30 04:00:00 EDT 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2567526· OSTI ID:2567526

Liu, Xingbo ^[1]

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1. West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)

Technical understanding: A high-performance and stable intermediate temperature proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cell (PCEC) will add significantly to the hydrogen roadmap of EERE. However, the low electrocatalytic activity of the air electrode and the instability of the electrolyte are technical barriers. In this research, we utilized computational fluid dynamic modeling and materials/microstructure engineering to investigate the complex reaction chain and to improve the performance and reliability of the protonic ceramic electrochemical cells. An active and stable Pr_1.8Ba_0.2NiO_4+δ-BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.1Yb_0.1O_3-δ (BZCYYb) scaffold conformal coating electrode was rationally designed where the robust Pr_1.8Ba_0.2NiO_4+δ functions both as a catalytic active and a protective layer. The PCECs with porosity-optimized scaffold conformal coating electrodes demonstrate 1.46 Acm^-2 under 1.3 V at 600°C, which is among the highest in recent years. The final optimization by computational fluid dynamic modeling and conformal coating technique was applied to evolve the PCEC air electrode from Pr₂NiO_4+δ to Pr_1.8Ba_0.2NiO_4+δ-BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.1Yb_0.1O_3-δ scaffold conformal coating. The electrolysis current was boosted from 0.445A/cm² to 1.46A/cm² at 600°C and 1.3V. A superior low degradation rate of 1mV/kh was achieved in a 5000-hour of operation. Technical effectiveness and economic feasibility: The effectiveness of this TCO conformal coating on electrolyte backbone as air electrode has been proven by long-term demonstration. Based on the highly conductive BZCYYb electrolyte and the TCO steam electrode PNO, this project rationally took advantage of the existent materials to structure a PCEC device with high TRL and low risk. The solution infiltration method used to structure the conformal coating is a standard method used by the solid oxide cell community. Very minimal adoption is needed in the current SOC fabrication process. It is a cost-effective, scalable method for manufacturing, and brings up remarkable impact on the current technical status of PCEC. Benefit to the public: The findings in the research showed the industry that the severe challenge in PCEC can be overcome in a practical way. A various energy-hydrogen ecosystem is not beyond reach. The success of this technology provides sustainable and affordable H₂ to society. It will stimulate investment from the governmental and private sectors in response to the device manufacture and deployment, and the related infrastructure construction. It will generate high-pay domestic jobs and environmental benefits to the general public in the United States.

• Research Organization: West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)
• DOE Contract Number: EE0008378
• OSTI ID: 2567526
• Report Number(s): DOE-WVU--EE0008378
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN