Progress in Research and Development of Solid Oxide Cells, Stacks and Systems at Forschungszentrum Jülich

Abstract

Forschungszentrum Jülich has been involved in the research and development of SOCs for more than 30 years. In this work, selected highlights on material, cell, stack and system development are presented, whereas improving performance and understanding degradation phenomena were in the focus. On cell level, operation in steam, co-electrolysis as well as pure CO2 electrolysis mode was researched. A hierarchical degradation model framework was developed that relates changes at the level of electrode particles to changes in electrode structure, resulting materials properties and overall lifetime-performance. On stack level, progress in clarification and optimization of performance and lifetime relevant processes was made. The role of contaminants, foremost silicon species and sulfur dioxide in feed gases, was investigated to support technical applications. On system level, an rSOC system with an output power of 10 kW in fuel cell mode and an input power of 40 kW in electrolysis mode was developed.