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A novel experimental technique is developed to measure the in situ surface deformation and temperature of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode surface along with the cell electrochemical performance. The experimental setup consists of a NexTech Probostat™ SOFC button cell test apparatus integrated with a Sagnac interferometric optical method and an infrared sensor for in situ surface deformation and temperature measurements, respectively. The button cell is fed with hydrogen or simulated coal syngas under SOFC operating conditions. The surface deformation is measured over time to estimate the anode structural degradation. The cell surface transient temperature is also monitored with different applied current densities under hydrogen and simulated coal syngas. The experimental results are useful to validate and develop SOFC structural durability and electrochemical models.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are being extensively researched for clean power generation from coal‐derived syngas. Some of the contaminants in syngas such as phosphine (PH3) may interact with the SOFC anode material, and degrade its electrochemical performance and material properties. In this paper, a modified Sagnac interferometry method is utilized to monitor the anode surface transient temperature as a function of applied current densities under hydrogen and simulated coal syngas. Moreover, the poisoning effects of PH3 contaminant on the SOFCs performance are investigated in dry and moist conditions. The experimental results indicate that the Ni‐cermet‐based SOFC anode is more susceptible to degradation due to PH3 in the presence of steam than under dry conditions. These experiments are valuable for the validation and the development of SOFC electrochemical models, and understanding the anode‐contaminant interaction.

An experimental technique is developed that can measure in-situ surface deformation and monitor surface temperature of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode, along with its electrochemical performance. In this research, a NexTech Probostat™ button cell test apparatus is modified and integrated with Sagnac interferometric optical setup and infrared sensor for anode surface deformation and temperature measurement respectively. The cell surface transient temperature is monitored as a function of applied current densities in hydrogen and simulated syngas environment. The surface deformation is also measured over time to estimate the anode material degradation to predict its structural life. The experimental results are useful to validate the SOFC structural and electrochemical models.

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