In-situ neutron powder diffraction is capable of simultaneous measurement of the phase transformation and the absolute oxygen stoichiometry, and can provide information on the ordering on the oxygen sub-lattice. Furthermore, the oxygen vacancy values are determined independently for each refined structure. We will demonstrate the unique capability of in-situ neutron powder diffraction to characterize solid oxide fuel cell materials. We are investigating the sintering behavior of the formation of Ba doped LaNbO4 proton conductor La0.98Ba0.02NbO4-d (LBN) from room temperature to 1400oC. Evolution of metastable transition phases has been observed during the formation of LBN. In addition, the phase transformation temperature of LBN is also determined by neutron diffraction during the cooling down in the sintering profile. We are also investigating the series Pr0.36Sr0.6Co1-xFexNb0.1O3-d (x = 0, 0.3, 0.6, 1) via neutron diffraction and have collected in-situ data on the x=0.3 member in atmosphere and temperature conditions approximating those in a working solid oxide fuel cell. Another potential solid oxide fuel cell anode material, Sr0.9Ti0.8Nb0.2O3,has also been analyzed under approximate fuel cell conditions. Temperatures of formation and phase fractions are determined for metastable phases.

In-situ neutron powder diffraction of solid oxide fuel cell materials

247th National Meeting (2014)

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