Rapid Laser Reactive Sintering for Sustainable and Clean Preparation of Protonic Ceramics

Journal Article · 14 May 2020 · ACS Omega

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c00879 · OSTI ID:1618809

Mu, Shenglong ^[1]; Huang, Hua ^[1]; Ishii, Akihiro  ^[1]; Hong, Yuzhe ^[1]; Santomauro, Aaron ^[1]; Zhao, Zeyu ^[1]; Zou, Minda ^[1]; Peng, Fei  ^[1]; Brinkman, Kyle S.  ^[1]; Xiao, Hai ^[1]; Tong, Jianhua  ^[1]

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1. Clemson Univ., SC (United States)

One of the essential challenges for energy conversion and storage devices based on protonic ceramics is that the high temperature (1600–1700 °C) and long-time firing (>10 h) are inevitably required for the fabrication, which makes the sustainable and clean manufacturing of protonic ceramic devices impractical. This study provided a new rapid laser reactive sintering (RLRS) method for the preparation of nine protonic ceramics [i.e., BaZr_0.8Y_0.2O_3-δ (BZY20), BZY20 + 1 wt % NiO, BaCe_0.7Zr_0.1Y_0.1Yb_0.1O_3-δ (BCZYYb), BCZYYb + 1 wt % NiO, 40 wt % BCZYYb + 60 wt % NiO, BaCe_0.85Fe_0.15O_3-δ–BaCe_0.15Fe_0.85O_3-δ (BCF), BaCo_0.4Fe_0.4Zr_0.1Y_0.1O_3-δ (BCFZY0.1), BaCe_0.6Zr_0.3Y_0.1O_3-δ (BCZY63), and La_0.7Sr_0.3CrO_3-δ (LSC)] with desired crystal structures and microstructures. Following this, the dual-layer half-cells, comprising the porous electrode and dense electrolyte, were prepared by the developed RLRS technique. After applying the BCFZY0.1 cathode, the protonic ceramic fuel cell (PCFC) single cells were prepared and tested initially. The derived conductivity of the RLRS electrolyte films showed comparable proton conductivity with the electrolyte prepared by conventional furnace sintering. The initial cost estimation based on electricity consumption during the sintering process for the fabrication of PCFC single cells showed that RLRS is more competitive than the conventional furnace sintering. This RLRS can be combined with the rapid additive manufacturing of ceramics for the sustainable and clean manufacturing of protonic ceramic energy devices and the processing of other ceramic devices.

• Research Organization: Clemson Univ., SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation and Fuels. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)
• Grant/Contract Number: EE0008428
• OSTI ID: 1618809
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1630818; OSTI ID: 2202907
• Journal Information: ACS Omega, Vol. 5, Issue 20; ISSN 2470-1343
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English