Performance degradation in proton-conducting ceramic fuel cell and electrolyzer stacks

Le, Long; Meisel, Charlie; Hernandez, Carolina Herradon; Huang, Jake; Kim, Youdong; O’Hayre, Ryan; Sullivan, Neal P.

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.231356

Cited by 33 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The peaks at 10 -2 and 10 -4 s decrease with increasing pressure, especially the peak at τ = 10 -2 s. Gas diffusion is expected to be the most pressure-dependent process, typically manifesting at the lowest frequencies (Sumi et al, 2021). This suggests that the peak at 10 -1 s is likely tied to this physical process as proposed by Le et al (Le et al, 2022). The peak at 10 -2 s seems more likely to be associated with the electrode surface diffussion which also improves at higher pressures; the resistance tied to this process decreases.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 66%

“…The experiments in this work were conducted at a constant temperature of 550°C and fixed gas conditions of 75% H 2 + 25% N 2 fed to the negatrode and air +10%-30% H 2 O fed to the positrode. Higher water-vapor concentrations have been shown to improve electrolyzer electrochemical performance, but have also been tied to increased degradation rates (Le et al, 2022).…”

Section: Pressure Effect On Cell Performance In Electrolysis Modementioning

confidence: 99%

“…As presented by Le et al (Le et al, 2022), electrochemical impedance spectra acquired from PCECs can be fitted to an equivalent-circuit model (ECM) in which each element can be generally associated to characteristic phenomena taking place in the cell. We found that a four-component ECM LR 0 (RQ) 1 (RQ) 2 (RQ) 3 effectively captures the impedance responses from our cells.…”

Section: Pressure Effect On Cell Performance In Electrolysis Modementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, while the electrochemically produced H 2 is diluted with water vapor in solid-oxide cells, necessitating downstream FIGURE 1 Illustration of proton-conducting ceramic electrolysis cell. Adapted from Le et al (Le et al, 2022), with permission. separation processes, PCECs provide a pure, dry hydrogen product stream.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Proton-conducting ceramics for water electrolysis and hydrogen production at elevated pressure

Herradon

Meisel

et al. 2022

Front. Energy Res.

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Pressurized operation is advantageous for many electrolysis and electrosynthesis technologies. The effects of pressure have been studied extensively in conventional oxygen-ion conducting solid-oxide electrochemical cells. In constrast, very few studies have examined pressurized operation in proton-conducting electroceramics. Protonic ceramics offer high proton conductivity at intermediate temperatures (∼400–600°C) that are well-matched to many important thermochemical synthesis processes. Pressurized operation can bring significant additional benefits and/or provide access to synthetic pathways otherwise unavailable or thermodynamically disfavorable under ambient conditions and in higher- or lower-temperature electrochemical devices. Here we examine pressurized steam electrolysis in protonic-ceramic unit-cell stacks based on a BaCe0.4Zr0.4Y0.1Yb0.1O3−δ (BCZYYb4411) electrolyte, a Ni–BZCYYb4411 composite negatrode (fuel electrode) and a BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.1Y0.1O3−δ (BCFZY) positrode (air-steam electrode). The cells are packaged within unit-cell stacks, including metallic interconnects, current collectors, sealing glasses and gaskets sealed by mechanical compression. The assembly is packaged within a stainless steel vessel for performance characterization at elevated pressure. Protonic-ceramic electrolyzer performance is analyzed at 550°C and pressures up to 12 bara. Increasing the operating pressure from 2.1 to 12.6 bara enables a 40% overall decrease in the over-potential required to drive electrolysis at 500 mA cm−2, with a 33% decrease in the cell ohmic resistance and a 60% decrease in the cell polarization resistance. Faradaic efficiency is also found to increase with operating pressure. These performance improvements are attributed to faster electrode kinetics, improved gas transport, and beneficial changes to the defect equilibria in the protonic-ceramic electrolyte, which more than compensate for the slight increase in Nernst potential brought by pressurized operation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) coupled with distribution of relaxation time (DRT) analysis provides greater insight into the fundamental processes altered by pressurized operation.

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Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 66%

Section: Pressure Effect On Cell Performance In Electrolysis Modementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Pressure Effect On Cell Performance In Electrolysis Modementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Proton-conducting ceramics for water electrolysis and hydrogen production at elevated pressure

Herradon

Meisel

et al. 2022

Front. Energy Res.

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“…In particular, with suitable screen-printed electrodes, the as-prepared half-cells can be used for a variety of applications owing to their chemical stability in steam and carbon dioxide environments. P-SOCs operating in the intermediate temperature range are instrumental for hydrogen production from ammonia or methane, , steam electrolysis, , cogeneration of energy and chemicals, , ammonia synthesis, , carbon dioxide valorisation, , electrochemical promotion of catalysts, , or hydrocarbon valorisation …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of Electrode-Supported Proton Conducting Solid Oxide Cells and their Evaluation as Electrochemical Hydrogen Pumps

Mushtaq

Welzel

Sharma

et al. 2022

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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Protonic ceramic solid oxide cells (P-SOCs) have gained widespread attention due to their potential for operation in the temperature range of 300–500 °C, which is not only beneficial in terms of material stability but also offers unique possibilities from a thermodynamic point of view to realize a series of reactions. For instance, they are ideal for the production of synthetic fuels by hydrogenation of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, upgradation of hydrocarbons, or dehydrogenation reactions. However, the development of P-SOC is quite challenging because it requires a multifront optimization in terms of material synthesis and fabrication procedures. Herein, we report in detail a method to overcome various fabrication challenges for the development of efficient and robust electrode-supported P-SOCs (Ni-BCZY/BCZY/Ni-BCZY) based on a BaCe 0.2 Zr 0.7 Y 0.1 O 3−δ (BCZY271) electrolyte. We examined the effect of pore formers on the porosity of the Ni-BCZY support electrode, various electrolyte deposition techniques (spray, spin, and vacuum-assisted), and thermal treatments for developing robust and flat half-cells. Half-cells containing a thin (10–12 μm) pinhole-free electrolyte layer were completed by a screen-printed Ni-BCZY electrode and evaluated as an electrochemical hydrogen pump to access the functionality. The P-SOCs are found to show a current density ranging from 150 to 525 mA cm –2 at 1 V over an operating temperature range of 350–450 °C. The faradaic efficiency of the P-SOCs as well as their stability were also evaluated.

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Fundamental Understanding and Applications of Protonic Y‐ and Yb‐Coped Ba(Ce,Zr)O₃ Perovskites: State‐of‐the‐Art and Perspectives

Danilov,

Starostina,

Starostin

et al. 2023

Advanced Energy Materials

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Proton‐conducting oxide materials are interesting objects from both fundamental and applied viewpoints due to the origination of protonic defects in a crystal structure as a result of their interaction with hydrogen‐containing atmospheres at elevated temperatures. The high mobility of such defects at temperatures between 400 and 700 °C leads to superior ionic conductivity. As a result, some perovskite‐type proton‐conducting oxides have been proposed as electrolytes for solid oxide fuel and electrolysis cells. Barium cerate (BaCeO3), barium zirconate (BaZrO3), and barium cerate‐zirconates (BaCeO3–BaZrO3) have been widely studied in terms of the parent phases of proton‐conducting electrolytes. Among them, Y and Yb co‐doped Ba(Ce,Zr)O3 can be identified as one of the most promising systems so far. This review discloses key functional properties of such phases and explains the increased attention of researchers to this system.

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Performance degradation in proton-conducting ceramic fuel cell and electrolyzer stacks

Cited by 33 publications

References 37 publications

Proton-conducting ceramics for water electrolysis and hydrogen production at elevated pressure

Proton-conducting ceramics for water electrolysis and hydrogen production at elevated pressure

Development of Electrode-Supported Proton Conducting Solid Oxide Cells and their Evaluation as Electrochemical Hydrogen Pumps

Fundamental Understanding and Applications of Protonic Y‐ and Yb‐Coped Ba(Ce,Zr)O₃ Perovskites: State‐of‐the‐Art and Perspectives

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Performance degradation in proton-conducting ceramic fuel cell and electrolyzer stacks

Cited by 33 publications

References 37 publications

Proton-conducting ceramics for water electrolysis and hydrogen production at elevated pressure

Proton-conducting ceramics for water electrolysis and hydrogen production at elevated pressure

Development of Electrode-Supported Proton Conducting Solid Oxide Cells and their Evaluation as Electrochemical Hydrogen Pumps

Fundamental Understanding and Applications of Protonic Y‐ and Yb‐Coped Ba(Ce,Zr)O3 Perovskites: State‐of‐the‐Art and Perspectives

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Fundamental Understanding and Applications of Protonic Y‐ and Yb‐Coped Ba(Ce,Zr)O₃ Perovskites: State‐of‐the‐Art and Perspectives