Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T04:47:19.076Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Silver composites as highly stable cathode current collectors for solid oxide fuel cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2012

Ayhan Sarikaya
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri 65409
Vladimir Petrovsky
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri 65409
Fatih Dogan*
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri 65409
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Time stability of the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) has been a significant concern toward realization of their practical applications. Its operation at elevated temperatures and in oxidizing atmospheres makes the cathode current collector one of the most vulnerable components of the SOFCs. Silver and silver-based metal oxide [lanthanum–strontium manganite (LSM) and yttria-stabilized zirconia] composites were investigated for the development of low-cost current collectors with long-term stability. While densification of pure silver limited its use as current collector, incorporation of oxide particles to the silver matrix led to formation of porous composites. However, addition of YSZ particles did not result in a stable porosity. Analysis of the impedance spectra allowed further investigations on the obtained microstructures and the formed contacts. No microstructural degradation has been observed in the porous Ag–LSM composite current collector and its electrical properties remained stable for over 5000 h of measurements at 800 °C in air.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Schafer, W., Koch, A., Herold-Schmidt, U., and Stolten, D.: Materials, interfaces and production techniques for planar solid oxide fuel cells. Solid State Ionics 8688, 1235 (1996).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Koch, S. and Hendriksen, P.V.: Contact resistance at ceramic interfaces and its dependence on mechanical load. Solid State Ionics 168, 1 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Zhou, X.D., Pederson, L.R., Templeton, J.W., and Stevenson, J.W.: Electrochemical performance and stability of the cathode for solid oxide fuel cells. J. Electrochem. Soc. 157, B220 (2010).Google Scholar
4.Huang, K., Hou, P.Y., and Goodenough, J.B.: Characterization of iron-based alloy interconnects for reduced temperature solid oxide fuel cells. Solid State Ionics 129, 237 (2000).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Piron-Abellan, J., Shemet, V., Tietz, F., Singheiser, L., and Quadakkers, W.J.: Ferritic steel interconnect for reduced temperature SOFC, in Proceedings of the Seventh International Symposium on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells; Yokokawa, H. and Singhal, S.C., eds., PV 2001-16, The Electrochemical Proceedings Series, Pennington, NJ, 2001; p. 811.Google Scholar
6.Yang, Z., Weil, K.S., Paxton, D.M., and Stevenson, J.W.: Selection and evaluation of heat-resistant alloys for SOFC interconnect applications. J. Electrochem. Soc. 150, A1188 (2003).Google Scholar
7.Wilkinson, L.T. and Zhu, J.H.: Ag-perovskite composite materials for SOFC cathode–interconnect contact. J. Electrochem. Soc. 156, B905B912 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Yang, Z., Xia, G., Singh, P., and Stevenson, J.W.: Electrical contacts between cathodes and metallic interconnects in solid oxide fuel cells. J. Power Sources 155, 246 (2006).Google Scholar
9.Simner, S.P., Anderson, M.D., Coleman, J.E., and Stevenson, J.W.: Performance of a novel La(Sr)Fe(Co)O3–Ag SOFC cathode. J. Power Sources 161, 115 (2006).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Simner, S.P., Anderson, M.D., Pederson, L.R., and Stevenson, J.W.: Performance variability of La(Sr)FeO3 SOFC cathode with Pt, Ag, and Au current collectors. J. Electrochem. Soc. 152, A1851 (2005).Google Scholar
11.Sheppard, T.B. and Kang, B.S.J.: Development of candidate silver Cermet contact materials for cathode side in solid oxide fuel cell, in Proceedings of Materials Science and Technology Conference (MS&T) 2007, Singh, P., Azad, A-M., Collins, D.C., Kumta, P.N., Legzdins, C., Manthiram, A., Manicannan, A., Sundaram, S.K. and Yang, Z.G., eds., PV 2007-2, Detroit, MI, 2007; p. 1209.Google Scholar
12.Singh, P., Yang, Z., Viswanathan, V., and Stevenson, J.W.: Observations on the structural degradation of silver during simultaneous exposure to oxidizing and reducing environments. J. Mater. Eng. Perform. 13, 287 (2004).Google Scholar
13.Camaratta, M. and Wachsman, E.D.: Silver-bismuth oxide cathodes for IT-SOFCs; Part I-microstructural instability. Solid State Ionics 178, 1242 (2007).Google Scholar
14.Anderson, H.U. and Tietz, F.: Interconnects, in High Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Fundamentals, Design and Applications, edited by Singhal, S.C. and Kendall, K. (Elsevier Advanced Technology, Oxford, UK, 2003) p. 183.Google Scholar
15.Sarikaya, A., Petrovsky, V., and Dogan, F.: Development of a silver based current collector for SOFC cathodes, in In-Situ Studies of Solid-Oxide Fuel-Cell Materials, edited by Maher, R. (Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 1385, Warrendale, PA, 2012) MRSF11-1385-C07-10.Google Scholar
16.Meulenberg, W.A., Teller, O., Flesch, U., Buchkremer, H.P., and Stöver, D.: Improved contacting by the use of silver in solid oxide fuel cells up to an operating temperature of 800 °C. J. Mater. Sci. 36, 3189 (2001).Google Scholar
17.Wang, Z., Zhang, N., Qiao, J., Sun, K., and Xu, P.: Improved SOFC performance with continuously graded anode functional layer. Electrochem. Commun. 11, 1120 (2009).Google Scholar
18.Barsoukov, E. and Macdonald, J.R.: Impedance Spectroscopy: Theory, Experiment, and Applications (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, 2005) p. 84.Google Scholar
19.Lanfredi, S. and Rodrigues, A.C.M.: Impedance spectroscopy study of the electrical conductivity and dielectric constant of polycrystalline LiNbO3. J. Appl. Phys. 86, 2215 (1999).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Jasinski, P., Petrovsky, V., Suzuki, T., and Anderson, H.U.: Impedance studies of diffusion phenomena and ionic and electronic conductivity of cerium oxide. J. Electrochem. Soc. 152, J27 (2005).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.Möbius, H. and Rohland, B.: Oxygen-ion-conducting solid electrolytes and their applications. XIV. Effect of the electrode material on the results of electrical conductivity measurements in solid electrolytes. Z. Chem. 6, 158 (1966).Google Scholar
22.Badwal, S., Bannister, M., and Murray, M.: Non-stoichiometric oxide electrodes for solid state electrochemical devices. J. Electroanal. Chem. 168, 363 (1984).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23.Ramanarayanan, T.A. and Rapp, R.A.: The diffusivity and solubility of oxygen in liquid tin and solid silver and the diffusivity. Metall. Mater. Trans. B 3, 3239 (1972).Google Scholar
24.Kontoulis, I. and Steele, B.C.H.: Determination of oxygen diffusion in solid Ag by an electrochemical technique. Solid State Ionics 47, 317 (1991).Google Scholar
25.Park, JH.: Measuring oxygen diffusivity and solubility in solid silver with a gas-tight electrochemical cell. Mater. Lett. 9, 313 (1990).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
26.Kanezashi, M., O’Brien-Abraham, J., Lin, Y.S., and Suzuki, K.: Gas permeation through DDR-type zeolite membranes at high temperatures. AlChE J. 54, 1478 (2008).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27.Sah, C.T.: Fundamentals of Solid-State Electronics (World Scientific Publishing, Singapore, 1991) p. 436.Google Scholar