Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells: Microstructure and Degradation of the Ni/Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Electrode

Anne Hauch, Sune Ebbesen, Søren Højgaard Jensen, Mogens Bjerg Mogensen

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    Abstract

    Solid oxide fuel cells produced at Risø DTU have been tested as solid oxide electrolysis cells for steam electrolysis by applying an external voltage. Varying the sealing on the hydrogen electrode side of the setup verifies that the previously reported passivation over the first few hundred hours of electrolysis testing was an effect of the applied glass sealing. Degradation of the cells during long-term galvanostatic electrolysis testing [850°C, −1/2 A/cm2, p(H2O)/p(H2)=0.5/0.5] was analyzed by impedance spectroscopy and the degradation was found mainly to be caused by increasing polarization resistance associated with the hydrogen electrode. A cell voltage degradation of 2%/1000 h was obtained. Postmortem analysis of cells tested at these conditions showed that the electrode microstructure could withstand at least 1300 h of electrolysis testing, however, impurities were found in the hydrogen electrode of tested solid oxide electrolysis cells. Electrolysis testing at high current density, high temperature, and a high partial pressure of steam [−2 A/cm2, 950°C, p(H2O)=0.9 atm] was observed to lead to significant microstructural changes at the hydrogen electrode-electrolyte interface.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of the Electrochemical Society
    Volume155
    Issue number11
    Pages (from-to)B1184-B1193
    ISSN0013-4651
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2008

    Bibliographical note

    Copyright The Electrochemical Society, Inc. [2008]. All rights reserved. Except as provided under U.S. copyright law, this work may not be reproduced, resold, distributed, or modified without the express permission of The Electrochemical Society (ECS).

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