Evaluating microstructure evolution in an SOFC electrode using digital volume correlation
Abstract
Degradation mechanisms within solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) during thermal cycling limit operational start-up times and cell lifetime, and must therefore be better understood and mitigated. This work explores such mechanisms using digital volume correlation (DVC) techniques applied to lab-based X-ray tomograms where the microstructural evolution is evaluated during the operational cycling of a Ni–YSZ/YSZ cell. To emulate reduced start-up times, five tomograms were collected over four operational thermal cycles to 750 °C at various ramp-rates: 3, 10, 20 and 30 °C min–1. Two key features are observed in the 3D strain profiles. Firstly, during low ramp-rates the material produces microscopic channels towards cluster-points. This is thought to be caused by the ceramic skeleton inhibiting the effects of sintering. Secondly, previously unseen macroscopic ‘waves’ developed after high-rate cycling, consisting of linear regions of compression and tension throughout the sample. These wave features decay away from a heterogeneous defect which is thought to be responsible for the non-uniform strain profile. This work demonstrates the first use of sub-micron DVC computations applied to an SOFC exposed to operationally relevant temperatures. Lastly, these findings will assist in the development of new electrode materials from their fabrication to operation, ultimately supporting commercial viability ofmore »
- Authors:
-
[1];
[1];
[2];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1]
- UCL, London (United Kingdom)
- National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1485555
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-5400-72931
Journal ID: ISSN 2398-4902; SEFUA7
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Sustainable Energy & Fuels
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 2; Journal Issue: 12; Journal ID: ISSN 2398-4902
- Publisher:
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; solid oxide fuel cells; degradation mechanisms; digital volume correlation
Citation Formats
Heenan, T. M. M., Lu, X., Finegan, Donal P., Robinson, J., Iacoviello, F., Bailey, J. J., Brett, D. J. L., and Shearing, P. R. Evaluating microstructure evolution in an SOFC electrode using digital volume correlation. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1039/C8SE00292D.
Heenan, T. M. M., Lu, X., Finegan, Donal P., Robinson, J., Iacoviello, F., Bailey, J. J., Brett, D. J. L., & Shearing, P. R. Evaluating microstructure evolution in an SOFC electrode using digital volume correlation. United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8SE00292D
Heenan, T. M. M., Lu, X., Finegan, Donal P., Robinson, J., Iacoviello, F., Bailey, J. J., Brett, D. J. L., and Shearing, P. R. Mon .
"Evaluating microstructure evolution in an SOFC electrode using digital volume correlation". United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8SE00292D. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1485555.
@article{osti_1485555,
title = {Evaluating microstructure evolution in an SOFC electrode using digital volume correlation},
author = {Heenan, T. M. M. and Lu, X. and Finegan, Donal P. and Robinson, J. and Iacoviello, F. and Bailey, J. J. and Brett, D. J. L. and Shearing, P. R.},
abstractNote = {Degradation mechanisms within solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) during thermal cycling limit operational start-up times and cell lifetime, and must therefore be better understood and mitigated. This work explores such mechanisms using digital volume correlation (DVC) techniques applied to lab-based X-ray tomograms where the microstructural evolution is evaluated during the operational cycling of a Ni–YSZ/YSZ cell. To emulate reduced start-up times, five tomograms were collected over four operational thermal cycles to 750 °C at various ramp-rates: 3, 10, 20 and 30 °C min–1. Two key features are observed in the 3D strain profiles. Firstly, during low ramp-rates the material produces microscopic channels towards cluster-points. This is thought to be caused by the ceramic skeleton inhibiting the effects of sintering. Secondly, previously unseen macroscopic ‘waves’ developed after high-rate cycling, consisting of linear regions of compression and tension throughout the sample. These wave features decay away from a heterogeneous defect which is thought to be responsible for the non-uniform strain profile. This work demonstrates the first use of sub-micron DVC computations applied to an SOFC exposed to operationally relevant temperatures. Lastly, these findings will assist in the development of new electrode materials from their fabrication to operation, ultimately supporting commercial viability of SOFCs.},
doi = {10.1039/C8SE00292D},
journal = {Sustainable Energy & Fuels},
number = 12,
volume = 2,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Mon Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
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Figures / Tables:
Fig. 1: Experimental set-up for the correlation of lab-based X-ray tomograms using digital volume correlation: (a) sample refinement and geometric set-up for X-ray characterisation and (b) thermal profile with indication of the time at which the five tomograms and four DVC computations were conducted.
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Figures / Tables found in this record:
Figures/Tables have been extracted from DOE-funded journal article accepted manuscripts.