Electrochemical, Structural and Surface Characterization of Nickel/Zirconia Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anodes in Coal Gas Containing Antimony

Journal Article · Sun Feb 27 00:00:00 EST 2011 · Journal of Power Sources, 196(11):4911-4922

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2011.02.027· OSTI ID:1010466

Marina, Olga A; Pederson, Larry R; Coyle, Christopher A; Thomsen, Edwin C; Nachimuthu, Ponnusamy; Edwards, Danny J

The interaction of antimony with the nickel-zirconia solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode has been investigated. Tests with both anode-supported and electrolyte-supported button cells were performed at 700 and 800oC in synthetic coal gas containing 10 ppb to 9 ppm antimony. Minor performance loss was observed immediately after Sb introduction to coal gas resulting in ca. 5 % power output drop. While no further degradation was observed during the following several hundred hours of testing, cells abruptly and irreversibly failed after 800-1500 hours depending on Sb concentration and test temperature. Antimony was found to interact strongly with nickel and result in extensive alteration phase formation, consistent with expectations based on thermodynamic properties. Nickel antimonide phases, NiSb and Ni5Sb2, were partially coalesced into large grains and eventually affected electronic percolation through the anode support. Initial degradation was attributed to diffusion of antimony to the active anode/electrolyte interface to form an adsorption layer.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1010466
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-75755; JPSODZ; 25601; AA2530000; TRN: US201107%%168
• Journal Information: Journal of Power Sources, 196(11):4911-4922, Vol. 196, Issue 11; ISSN 0378-7753
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ADSORPTION
ANODES
ANTIMONIDES
ANTIMONY
COAL GAS
DIFFUSION
NICKEL
PERFORMANCE
SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS
TESTING
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
Ni/YSZ anode
SOFC
coal gas
contaminant
antimony adsorption
thermochemical calculations
degradation mechanism
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory