Impact of Electrochemical Reaction Mechanisms on Overpotentials in the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode

• Published in: ECS transactions Vol. 13; no. 26; pp. 123 - 136
• Main Authors: Grew, Kyle N., Izzo, John R., Chiu, Wilson
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• ISSN: 1938-5862; 1938-6737
• DOI: 10.1149/1.3050384

Further improvements of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) performance, reliability, and durability are necessary for the SOFC to become an attractive option for wide spread use. If we are to meet these challenges, an advanced understanding of the materials and structures are necessary. To aid in development of this advanced understanding, this work will develop a methodology for the pore-scale modeling of coupled mass transfer, electronic and ionic charge transfer, and the associated interfacial electrochemical reactions within the detailed anode microstructure. The approach provides the capability for understanding the effects of the coupling between the transport and reaction processes. Just as importantly, by taking a pore-scale approach, a direct understanding of the impact of the microstructure on the transport and reaction processes can be gained on a non-empirical basis.