Characterization and analysis methods for the examination of the heterogeneous solid oxide fuel cell electrode microstructure. Part 1: Volumetric measurements of the heterogeneous structure

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 195; no. 24; pp. 7930 - 7942
• Main Authors: Grew, Kyle N., Peracchio, Aldo A., Joshi, Abhijit S., Izzo, John R., Chiu, Wilson K.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.12.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anodes; Applied sciences; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Electrodes; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Imaging; Lattice Boltzmann; Microstructure; Nanostructure; Reconstruction; Solid oxide fuel cells; Tortuosity; Transport; X-ray; Lattice Boltzmann; X-ray; Microstructure; Transport; Heterogeneous material; Analysis method; Solid oxide fuel cell
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.07.005

Advanced imaging and characterization methods have permitted the 3-D and phase-specific reconstruction of dense and opaque samples with features that have a length scale on the order of tens of nanometers and comprised of materials with large X-ray mass absorption coefficients. Engineered materials, like those found in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrodes, use complex materials that have often limited opportunities to perform 3-D characterization and analysis. Still, characterization and analysis methods are needed to better understand these structures and their functional impact. The development, verification, and validation of methods used by the authors for the characterization and analysis of the heterogeneous SOFC anode are discussed in this work [1,2]. These methods include the measurement of the volume fractions of the individual phases, contiguity or volumetric connectivity, tortuosity, and interfacial properties. A second and complementary part of this work will examine quantitative methods that provide detailed descriptions of the structure and its relations to the transport processes that it must support [3]. These efforts are intended to describe the formulation of methods developed to provide insight into the SOFC anode nano/microstructure.