Quantitative analyses of changes in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrode microstructures provides an important means for understanding electrochemical performance degradation mechanisms. This paper will describe three-dimensional (3D) electrode tomography measurements of the structural evolution of various electrodes including Ni-Y-stabilized Zirconia (Ni-YSZ), (La,Sr)MnO3-YSZ, and (La,Sr)(Fe,Co)O3.  The measurements; made using focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy, transmission x-ray microscopy, or transmission electron microscopy; are done before and after annealing of the electrodes at elevated temperatures, in some cases with current flow.  In the case of the non-destructive transmission microscopy measurements, the same electrode volume can be observed before and after cell operation, or even in real time.  Correlation of the structural measurements with observed electrochemical degradation, made using simple electrochemical models, is discussed.

Observing electrode microstructure evolution and electrochemical degradation in solid oxide fuel cells

247th National Meeting (2014)

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