Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell...

94
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Transcript of Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell...

Page 1: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors andor other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights

Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research

You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain

You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim

Downloaded from orbitdtudk on Aug 23 2021

Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamicsand solid state chemistry for the experienced (II)

Mogensen Mogens Bjerg

Publication date2010

Link back to DTU Orbit

Citation (APA)Mogensen M B (2010) Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamicsand solid state chemistry for the experienced (II) Paper presented at Seminar at Idaho National LaboratoryIdaho (US) 18 Oct Idaho United States

Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced

Mogens MogensenFuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Risoslash National LaboratoryTechnical University of DenmarkPO 49 DK-4000 Roskilde DenmarkTel +45 4677 5726 momorisoedtudk

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contentsbull Basics of electromotive force cell voltage and reversibilitybull The course of electric potential through a cell - simplified bull Potential concepts - energy and voltagebull Electric potentials in more detailsbull Examples - the potential and oxygen partial pressure

through a YSZ based SOC

bull Polarisation of the cell and electrode overpotential typesbull Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction

resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Three electrode set-up and its problemsbull Other strategiesbull Electrode mechanismsbull Recommended literature

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell

The relation between the chemical energy ΔG (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by

-ΔG = n∙F∙Emf

n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Important ΔG and n must refer to the same reaction scheme

Example 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-

frac12O2 + 2e- O2-

H2 + frac12O2 H2On = 2 and ΔG0

298 = - 286 kJmol H2

Example 22H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e-

O2 + 4e- 2O2-

2H2 + O2 2H2O

n = 4 and ΔG0298 = - 572 kJmol O2

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)

Emf = -ΔG0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) =

- (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V

ΔG = ΔG0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass action

This gives us the Nernst equation

Basics

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are

1 The cell is under external electrical load

2 The cell has an internal electronic leak

3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage

4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured

5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The reversible SOC

Working principle of a reversible Solid Oxide Cell (SOC) The cell can be operated as a SOFC (A) and as a SOEC (B)

07 V 15 V

850 degC EMF ca 11 V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reversible SOCWorld record in electrolysis

From SH Jensen et al Internat J Hydrogen Energy 32 (2007) 3253

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through the electrode supported cell with no current -simplified

V4 ndash V1 = Emf

Emf = -ΔG(n∙F)

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v2=v3

v2 v3

t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TE

NTIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

0

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through a cell with a current load in fuel cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage smaller than Emf

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v3

v2v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte AnodeCathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

v2

Potential through a cell with a current load in electrolyser cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage larger than Emf

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 2: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced

Mogens MogensenFuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Risoslash National LaboratoryTechnical University of DenmarkPO 49 DK-4000 Roskilde DenmarkTel +45 4677 5726 momorisoedtudk

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contentsbull Basics of electromotive force cell voltage and reversibilitybull The course of electric potential through a cell - simplified bull Potential concepts - energy and voltagebull Electric potentials in more detailsbull Examples - the potential and oxygen partial pressure

through a YSZ based SOC

bull Polarisation of the cell and electrode overpotential typesbull Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction

resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Three electrode set-up and its problemsbull Other strategiesbull Electrode mechanismsbull Recommended literature

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell

The relation between the chemical energy ΔG (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by

-ΔG = n∙F∙Emf

n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Important ΔG and n must refer to the same reaction scheme

Example 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-

frac12O2 + 2e- O2-

H2 + frac12O2 H2On = 2 and ΔG0

298 = - 286 kJmol H2

Example 22H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e-

O2 + 4e- 2O2-

2H2 + O2 2H2O

n = 4 and ΔG0298 = - 572 kJmol O2

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)

Emf = -ΔG0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) =

- (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V

ΔG = ΔG0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass action

This gives us the Nernst equation

Basics

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are

1 The cell is under external electrical load

2 The cell has an internal electronic leak

3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage

4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured

5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The reversible SOC

Working principle of a reversible Solid Oxide Cell (SOC) The cell can be operated as a SOFC (A) and as a SOEC (B)

07 V 15 V

850 degC EMF ca 11 V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reversible SOCWorld record in electrolysis

From SH Jensen et al Internat J Hydrogen Energy 32 (2007) 3253

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through the electrode supported cell with no current -simplified

V4 ndash V1 = Emf

Emf = -ΔG(n∙F)

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v2=v3

v2 v3

t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TE

NTIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

0

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through a cell with a current load in fuel cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage smaller than Emf

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v3

v2v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte AnodeCathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

v2

Potential through a cell with a current load in electrolyser cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage larger than Emf

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 3: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contentsbull Basics of electromotive force cell voltage and reversibilitybull The course of electric potential through a cell - simplified bull Potential concepts - energy and voltagebull Electric potentials in more detailsbull Examples - the potential and oxygen partial pressure

through a YSZ based SOC

bull Polarisation of the cell and electrode overpotential typesbull Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction

resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Three electrode set-up and its problemsbull Other strategiesbull Electrode mechanismsbull Recommended literature

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell

The relation between the chemical energy ΔG (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by

-ΔG = n∙F∙Emf

n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Important ΔG and n must refer to the same reaction scheme

Example 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-

frac12O2 + 2e- O2-

H2 + frac12O2 H2On = 2 and ΔG0

298 = - 286 kJmol H2

Example 22H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e-

O2 + 4e- 2O2-

2H2 + O2 2H2O

n = 4 and ΔG0298 = - 572 kJmol O2

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)

Emf = -ΔG0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) =

- (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V

ΔG = ΔG0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass action

This gives us the Nernst equation

Basics

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are

1 The cell is under external electrical load

2 The cell has an internal electronic leak

3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage

4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured

5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The reversible SOC

Working principle of a reversible Solid Oxide Cell (SOC) The cell can be operated as a SOFC (A) and as a SOEC (B)

07 V 15 V

850 degC EMF ca 11 V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reversible SOCWorld record in electrolysis

From SH Jensen et al Internat J Hydrogen Energy 32 (2007) 3253

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through the electrode supported cell with no current -simplified

V4 ndash V1 = Emf

Emf = -ΔG(n∙F)

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v2=v3

v2 v3

t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TE

NTIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

0

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through a cell with a current load in fuel cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage smaller than Emf

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v3

v2v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte AnodeCathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

v2

Potential through a cell with a current load in electrolyser cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage larger than Emf

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 4: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell

The relation between the chemical energy ΔG (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by

-ΔG = n∙F∙Emf

n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Important ΔG and n must refer to the same reaction scheme

Example 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-

frac12O2 + 2e- O2-

H2 + frac12O2 H2On = 2 and ΔG0

298 = - 286 kJmol H2

Example 22H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e-

O2 + 4e- 2O2-

2H2 + O2 2H2O

n = 4 and ΔG0298 = - 572 kJmol O2

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)

Emf = -ΔG0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) =

- (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V

ΔG = ΔG0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass action

This gives us the Nernst equation

Basics

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are

1 The cell is under external electrical load

2 The cell has an internal electronic leak

3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage

4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured

5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The reversible SOC

Working principle of a reversible Solid Oxide Cell (SOC) The cell can be operated as a SOFC (A) and as a SOEC (B)

07 V 15 V

850 degC EMF ca 11 V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reversible SOCWorld record in electrolysis

From SH Jensen et al Internat J Hydrogen Energy 32 (2007) 3253

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through the electrode supported cell with no current -simplified

V4 ndash V1 = Emf

Emf = -ΔG(n∙F)

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v2=v3

v2 v3

t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TE

NTIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

0

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through a cell with a current load in fuel cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage smaller than Emf

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v3

v2v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte AnodeCathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

v2

Potential through a cell with a current load in electrolyser cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage larger than Emf

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 5: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Important ΔG and n must refer to the same reaction scheme

Example 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-

frac12O2 + 2e- O2-

H2 + frac12O2 H2On = 2 and ΔG0

298 = - 286 kJmol H2

Example 22H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e-

O2 + 4e- 2O2-

2H2 + O2 2H2O

n = 4 and ΔG0298 = - 572 kJmol O2

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)

Emf = -ΔG0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) =

- (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V

ΔG = ΔG0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass action

This gives us the Nernst equation

Basics

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are

1 The cell is under external electrical load

2 The cell has an internal electronic leak

3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage

4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured

5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The reversible SOC

Working principle of a reversible Solid Oxide Cell (SOC) The cell can be operated as a SOFC (A) and as a SOEC (B)

07 V 15 V

850 degC EMF ca 11 V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reversible SOCWorld record in electrolysis

From SH Jensen et al Internat J Hydrogen Energy 32 (2007) 3253

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through the electrode supported cell with no current -simplified

V4 ndash V1 = Emf

Emf = -ΔG(n∙F)

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v2=v3

v2 v3

t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TE

NTIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

0

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through a cell with a current load in fuel cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage smaller than Emf

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v3

v2v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte AnodeCathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

v2

Potential through a cell with a current load in electrolyser cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage larger than Emf

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 6: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)

Emf = -ΔG0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) =

- (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V

ΔG = ΔG0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass action

This gives us the Nernst equation

Basics

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are

1 The cell is under external electrical load

2 The cell has an internal electronic leak

3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage

4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured

5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The reversible SOC

Working principle of a reversible Solid Oxide Cell (SOC) The cell can be operated as a SOFC (A) and as a SOEC (B)

07 V 15 V

850 degC EMF ca 11 V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reversible SOCWorld record in electrolysis

From SH Jensen et al Internat J Hydrogen Energy 32 (2007) 3253

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through the electrode supported cell with no current -simplified

V4 ndash V1 = Emf

Emf = -ΔG(n∙F)

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v2=v3

v2 v3

t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TE

NTIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

0

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through a cell with a current load in fuel cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage smaller than Emf

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v3

v2v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte AnodeCathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

v2

Potential through a cell with a current load in electrolyser cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage larger than Emf

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 7: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are

1 The cell is under external electrical load

2 The cell has an internal electronic leak

3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage

4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured

5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured

Basics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The reversible SOC

Working principle of a reversible Solid Oxide Cell (SOC) The cell can be operated as a SOFC (A) and as a SOEC (B)

07 V 15 V

850 degC EMF ca 11 V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reversible SOCWorld record in electrolysis

From SH Jensen et al Internat J Hydrogen Energy 32 (2007) 3253

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through the electrode supported cell with no current -simplified

V4 ndash V1 = Emf

Emf = -ΔG(n∙F)

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v2=v3

v2 v3

t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TE

NTIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

0

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through a cell with a current load in fuel cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage smaller than Emf

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v3

v2v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte AnodeCathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

v2

Potential through a cell with a current load in electrolyser cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage larger than Emf

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 8: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The reversible SOC

Working principle of a reversible Solid Oxide Cell (SOC) The cell can be operated as a SOFC (A) and as a SOEC (B)

07 V 15 V

850 degC EMF ca 11 V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reversible SOCWorld record in electrolysis

From SH Jensen et al Internat J Hydrogen Energy 32 (2007) 3253

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through the electrode supported cell with no current -simplified

V4 ndash V1 = Emf

Emf = -ΔG(n∙F)

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v2=v3

v2 v3

t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TE

NTIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

0

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through a cell with a current load in fuel cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage smaller than Emf

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v3

v2v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte AnodeCathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

v2

Potential through a cell with a current load in electrolyser cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage larger than Emf

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 9: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reversible SOCWorld record in electrolysis

From SH Jensen et al Internat J Hydrogen Energy 32 (2007) 3253

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through the electrode supported cell with no current -simplified

V4 ndash V1 = Emf

Emf = -ΔG(n∙F)

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v2=v3

v2 v3

t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TE

NTIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

0

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through a cell with a current load in fuel cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage smaller than Emf

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v3

v2v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte AnodeCathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

v2

Potential through a cell with a current load in electrolyser cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage larger than Emf

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 10: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through the electrode supported cell with no current -simplified

V4 ndash V1 = Emf

Emf = -ΔG(n∙F)

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v2=v3

v2 v3

t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TE

NTIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

0

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through a cell with a current load in fuel cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage smaller than Emf

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v3

v2v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte AnodeCathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

v2

Potential through a cell with a current load in electrolyser cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage larger than Emf

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 11: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential through a cell with a current load in fuel cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage smaller than Emf

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v3

v2v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte AnodeCathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

v2

Potential through a cell with a current load in electrolyser cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage larger than Emf

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 12: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4

v3

v2v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

Electrolyte AnodeCathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

Electrolyte

v2

Potential through a cell with a current load in electrolyser cell mode -simplified

Cell voltage larger than Emf

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 13: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltageThe electrochemical potential of an electron is defined as

where μe- is the chemical potential of the electron F is Faradays number and φ is the electrical potential inside the material in which the electron is φ is called the Galvani potential the inner potential or the electrostatic potential It is no possible to measure the absolute value of φ but we can by measurement determine the difference in Galvani potential of two planes in a material if the material is homogeneous

The electrochemical and the chemical potential are both specific energy quantities Jmol whereas the Galvani potential has the unit of voltage V

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 14: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)

What we can measure with a voltmeter is the electromotive potential π defined as

This means that the electromotive potential is dependent on both the concentration of electrons and the Galvani potential

where is the standard state (or reference) concentration of the electrons

Let us look at a picture of the general potential concepts and afterwards see what this may be used for in practise

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 15: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 16: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide fuel cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 17: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The electric potentials in more details (cont)

Sketch of profiles for the electromotive potential π and the Galvani potential φ in a solid oxide electrolyser cell The oxygen electrode is to the right The absolute positions of the potentials are arbitrarily chosen

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 18: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Examples of a YSZ based cellThe following results are from T Jacobsen and M Mogensen ECS Transactions 13 (26) (2008) 259-273

Transport and concentration data for 8 mol YSZ from J H Park and RN Blumenthal J Electrochem Soc 136 (1989) 2867

Further data used in calculations given below (not from experiments)Electrode thickness L = 200 μmTemperature T = 1000 degCOxygen pressure right pO2 = 02 barOxygen pressure left pO2 = 100middot10minus15 barSOFC current i = 100A cmminus2SOEC current i = minus100A cmminus2

Charge transfer resistancesH2 + O2minus H2O+2eminus RctH = 005 ohm cm2

frac12 O2 + 2eminus 2O2minus RctO = 01 ohmcm2

Electron transfer ReH = 001 ohm cm2

Electron transfer ReO = 001 ohm cm2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 19: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electron defect concentration in YSZ

0 V

1000 degC -1 V

[h∙][e]

From Park amp Blumenthal JES 136 (1989) 2867

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 20: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

YSZpO

2=

1 at

m

Pote

ntia

l V

0 -

φ = φ0

Ni

LSM

π

Distance μml

0l

200

pO2

= 10

-15

atm

-1-

Potential course OCV 1000 degC

where φ0 is the Galvani potential at zero current If we define φ0 as zero then

π - φ 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

π - φ + φ0 2RT ln(pO )4F

=

Thus from this equation the local pO2 may be calculated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 21: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Potential course SOFC mode

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

pO2 = O2 bar

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 22: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electromotive π and Galvani φ potentials in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Potential course SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 23: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOFC mode

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOFC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 24: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

π-φ and local equilibrium oxygen pressure in a cell operating in SOEC mode compared to open circuit conditions at 1000 degC

Course of oxygen partial pressure SOEC mode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 25: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Conclusion on potentials

bull Several types of concepts of potential exist

bull The driving force for the electrons of very low concentration in a good solid electrolyte is the electromotive potential which is mainly reflecting the concentrations of electrons n and holes h

bull The driving force for oxide vacancies or interstitial protons of high constant concentration is the Galvani (also called electrostatic) potential gradient which is formed by the chemical driving forces of the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 26: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Questions 1

bull My question to you

bull Is the cell voltage of an electrolysis cell higher than the cell voltage of a fuel cell in case that the gas composition at the electrodes is the same

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 27: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Polarisation of a cellbull When current is drawn form a fuel cell the voltage decrease

below the Emf the bigger drop the higher the current density

bull This voltage drop is often referred to as cell polarisation

bull The part of the polarisation that is due to the sluggishness of the electrode reaction is called activation overvoltage (or overpotential) and the overvoltage due to changes in the reactant concentrations is called concentration overvoltage

bull The voltage drops due to the resistance of the electrolyte and due to non-ideal contacts are not overvoltges but just polarisations

bull Everything is just with opposite sign in case of electrolysis

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 28: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Types of polarisation resistance

The area specific resistance ASR may be broken down into five contributing area specific polarisation resistances

ASR = Relyt + Rconnect + Rpelchem + Rpdiff + Rpconver

The ohmic polarisation ΔUelyt is due to the electrolyte resistance and follows Ohms law

ΔUelyt = Relyt ∙i

cm2 ∙A cm-2 = V]

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 29: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Contact resistanceContact resistance may often be equal to constriction resistance (eg current collectors in the cell test set-up) because

bull Two bodies in contact (without pressure) will touch each other in 3 points

bull If the bodies are made of hard materials the contacts areas are almost only contact points

bull Thus the current path is constricted to go through these small contact areas

Literature R Holm Electrical contacts Theory and Applications 4 edition printed in 2000 Springer Berlin

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 30: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Small electrical contactsα is the radius of a circular contactμis a parameter and the distance along the y-axis is y = sqrt(μ)

Total resistance R = 1(4ασ)

56R 37 αFrom R Holm Electrical contacts

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 31: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Parameters important for constriction Resistance

bull The contact geometry in particular roughness

bull Contact load ie mechanical pressure

bull Materials properties conductivity elasticity ductility (creep and deformation strengths) ndash temperature is affecting these properties significantly ndash and current may affect the temperature

bull Surface layers (dirt oxidation products coatings)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 32: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks about contact resistances

bull The matter is in the exact details very complicated

bull Many example are treated mathematically in Holms book

bull In most cases we have to do own investigation in each single concrete case measurements microscopy and modeling

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 33: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltagebull Activation overvoltage is an unspecific term used when

you do not know what you have at hand There may be many different reasons for electrode reaction rate limitations at an electrode eg

bull adsorption of reactant molecules at the electrodebull bond breaking in the reactant moleculebull surface diffusion of reaction intermediates from the

catalytic sites to the three phase boundary (TPB) linebull diffusion of ions through the bulk of electrode particles

with mixed conductionbull conduction through or around segregated phases at the

surfaceat the TPBbull desorption of reaction productsbull transfer of ions across the electrodeelectrolyte interfacebull transfer of electrons from electrode to moleculebull More about this below

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 34: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The current density in low temperature electrochemistry is often well described by the Butler - Volmer equation

( )⎥⎦⎤

⎢⎣⎡

⎭⎬⎫

⎩⎨⎧

⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

minus⎟⎠⎞

⎜⎝⎛

sdotsdotminus

sdot= 20 exp1expcmA

TRF

TRFii ca ηαηα

Activation overvoltage

η = E ndash E0 the difference between the actual E = π

- φ

and the equilibrium E0 (i = 0) electrode potential αa and αc are anodic and cathodic symmetry factors 0 lt α

lt 1

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 35: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linear

At high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation

η

= a plusmn

b x logi

using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn

sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively

Activation overvoltage

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 36: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyser mode

(H2 O rarr H2 + frac12 O2 )

Fuel cell mode

(H2 O larr H2 + frac12 O2 ) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-2 -15 -1 -05 0 05 1 15 2 25

i [Acm 2]

Cel

l vol

tage

[mV]

1000 degC850 degC

indashV curves for a Risoslash SOC

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 37: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs

Even though the i-V curves are not exactly linear non of them look exponential in shape The curve a little in the region of 100 - 150 mV polarisation and then linear again

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 38: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Activation overvoltage

bullTo my best knowledge there is no experimental evidence that charge transfer as described by the Butler - Volmer equation is rate limiting SOC electrode reactions

bull As we will see later there are evidences for different kinds of rate limiting processes

bull Further the ldquobottle neckrdquo theory - ie only one rate determining step is present at a given condition ndash is often taken for granted and is actually a prerequisite for the simple Tafel Butler - Volmer analysis As we also will see this is very seldom seen in the case of SOCs

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 39: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas diffusion overvoltagebull If the diffusion of gas through a stagnant layer of gas

either outside an electrode or inside a thick porous electrode then a gas diffusion overvoltage appears the size is given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the gas composition at the electrode surface in the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface

bull More about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 40: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas conversion overvoltage

bull Gas conversion overvoltage occurs when the gas concentration (partial pressure) cannot be maintained in the electrode compartment When this is the case a contribution to the change in electrode potential will appear as given by the difference in the equilibrium potentials determined by the Nernst equation applied to 1) the OCV situation and 2) the situation with a current load high enough to change the gas composition in the electrode compartment

bull Much more about this later

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 41: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EISbull Both measurements of cell voltage vs current density

curve (i - V curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are necessary in order to characterise an electrode

bull The i - V curves are necessary in order to prove the actual electrode or cell performance They are simple to measure but usually very difficult to interpret

bull The single EIS spectrum is also difficult to interpret but using suitable strategy the EIS is a most valuable tool

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 42: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuit

bull The total current is the sum of two currents

bull Therefore the simples equivalent circuit for the electrode is a parallel connection between a capacitor and a resistor

bull This gives a semi-circle in the EIS plot

bull We will use the NiYSZH2 H2 O electrode as example

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 43: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 44: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

3E-set-up EIS on H2 3H2 ONi-YSZ at 1000 degC

1Hz

1 Hz

a) 5050 vol fine powder NiYSZ

b) Risoslash more rdquonormalrdquo NiYSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 45: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Interpretation

00 01 02 03 04

00

01

02

I II III

1 Hz

100 Hz10 kHz-Z

Ωcm

2

Z Ωcm2

TPBprocesses

Gasdiffusion

Gas conversion

1000 degC H2 + 3 H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 46: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

TPB related processes

bull The details of the electrode processes of both anode and cathode are still under debate and thus no clear-cut explanation can be given yet

bull Examples of measurements on cells follows

bull Some of the hypothesis about the mechanisms will be given at the end of this lecture for both anode and cathode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 47: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull An equivalent circuit can consist of several combined

elements like resistors inductors and capacitors

bull An equivalent circuit can be developed to describe the system and separate the magnitude of the physical processes

ndash Several impedance spectra are required recorded at eg different temperatures and gas compositions

ndash EIS is not a lsquostand alonersquo technique more information is required about the system obtained from eg electron microscopy

1Hz

Z (kΩ)

0 100 200 300 400

Z (

kΩ)

0

100

2001Hz

R Q

( )11)(

minus⎟⎠⎞⎜

⎝⎛ sdot+minus= niQRZ ωω

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 48: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits

bull Example of an equivalent circuit for a solid oxide fuel cell

Ramos et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 235

Rdiffconvan RanodeRelectrolyte

Rcathode Rdiffconvcath

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 49: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Equivalent circuits bull Often impedance spectra are complex as they describe several

(partially) overlapping physical processes

bullThree approaches can help to develop the equivalent circuit of a complex system

ndash Plotting the spectra in different graphical formsndash Analysis of differences in impedance spectrandash Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis of high quality

impedance spectra

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 50: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Nyquist plot

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 51: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Graphical representations of EIS spectra

bull Different complementary information can be obtained by plotting the data in different forms for example

Bode plots of impedance

00

01

02

03

04

05

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

00

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000Frequency

Zrea

l (O

hm c

m2 )

Orazem et al 2006 J Electrochem Soc 153 B129

rsquologaritmicrsquo Bode Plot

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 52: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)

bull An impedance spectrum often changes when the temperature or gas composition is changed When analysing the differences between spectra the number and nature of the changes can be analysed

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

00

02

04

04 06 08 10 12 14 16Z [Ωmiddotcmsup2]

-Z

middotcm

sup2]

4 H2O8 H2O17 H2O25 H2O33 H2O42 H2O50 H2O

650 degC

Jensen et al 2007 J Electrochem Soc 154 B1325Hjelm et al 2008 ECS Transactions 13 285

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 53: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

bull Distribution of relaxation times is gained by a Fourier transform of the impedance data giving a clearer picture of the number of physical processes and their nature

Schichlein et al 2002 J Appl Electrochem 32 875

00

05

10

15

20

1E-01 1E+00 1E+01 1E+02 1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06

Frequency (Hz)

DR

T

00

05

10

10 15 20 25 30 35Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 54: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)

Leonide et al 2008 J Electrochem Soc 155 B36

Nyquist representation

DRT representation

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 55: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

CNLS fitting

bull When an equivalent circuit has been developed the magnitudes of each of the elements can be calculated by CNLS fitting

bull By plotting the calculated values from the CNLS fitting the lsquogoodnessrsquo of the equivalent circuit can be evaluated

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 ) L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 56: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

00

02

04

06

12 17 22 27 32Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

CNLS fitting L Rs R2

CPE2

R3

CPE3

R4

C4

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

-12

-08

-04

00

04

08

12

0 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Erro

r (

)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 57: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

Ni-YSZ YSZ LSM-YSZ

Solid oxide cells

Many processes (mass amp charge transfer)

Porous composite electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 58: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-02

-01

00

01

02

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Zreal (Ohm cm2)

- Zim

ag (O

hm c

m2 )

0 h280 h

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

Equivalent circuit

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 59: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

-001

0

001

002

003

004

01 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

frequency (Hz)

Zim

ag 2

80 h

- Zi

mag

0 h

(Ohm

cm

2 )

L Rs R1

C1

R2

CPE2

GE R4

C4

p Degradationdeactivation of symmetrical solid oxide cells

YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LSM-YSZ

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 60: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 61: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

2

2 2

H O0

H O

lnPRTE E

nF P P= +

Fickrsquos first law of diffusion

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 62: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

τ = δ 2DEff

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 63: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 64: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 65: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 66: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Diffusion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 146 2827 (1999)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

H2 +O-- rarr

H2 O+2e-

JI = JO + JA

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance

Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Gas Conversion Impedance Primdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)

bull Given ΔxH2O ltltxH2O and ΔxH2 ltltxH2

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode

Electrolyte

Electrode and support

rdquoReferencerdquoelectrode

500microm

1000microm

50microm

10microm

500microm

50mm (5x104microm)

a

This is NOT a three-electrode set-up because the ldquoreferencerdquo is not a true reference electrode

Three electrode set-up problems

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrolyte

Electrode

Electrode and support

Current lines

rdquoReferencerdquo

b

A true reference electrode should be placed here

From Mogensen amp Hendriksen in High Temperature SOFCs Fundamentals Design and Applications Eds Singhal amp Kendall Elsevier 2003 p 261

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

POSITION

+

-

+-

v1

v4v2v3

v2 v3

0 t

v4v1

O--

ElectrolyteAnode Cathode

H2 + O--

H2O + 2e- frac12O2 + 2e- O--

PO

TEN

TIA

L

VO

LT

O--

Electrolyte

vref

v3

v4

vref

The potential across the electrolyte at the ldquoreferencerdquo electrode position (thick line) and through the cell part with the current load (thin line)

It is seen that (Vref ndash V4 )i = Rpanode + Rpcathode + Relyt = the total polarization of the cell apart from concentration polarization

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Reference electrode

Electrolyte pellet

Counter electrode

Alumina support

Weight load

Platinum wires

Working electrode

LSM pellet

Unsintered LSM tape

The Risoslash 3E-pellet is a proper 3E-set-up but there are other possibilities

It must be a thick electrolyte a pellet like thing in case of good electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

By convention it is the standard hydrogen electrode ie pH2 = 1 atm and 25degC

More practical for SOFC studies is an oxygen electrode pO2 = 1 atm and the actual temperature

The potential of this may be related to the standard hydrogen electrode potential

The Proper Reference Electrode

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Other strategies

bull Other methods that may help us to figure out the nature of the rate limitations are to investigate the effect of physical and chemical parameters on the EIS spectra

bull Through this we will get information of which kind of processes that the different parts of the EIS relates to

bull Parameters that may give information is apart from temperature and partial pressure of reactant are such as electrode geometry and dimension (thickness) electrode structure isotope composition gas flow rate effect of electrode poisons

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Electrode mechanismsbull Finally we will have a brief look at what is know and what

is proposed about the mechanisms of the hydrogen and the oxygen electrodes of SOC

bull Even though a lot of data is available there is still much disagreement about which mechanisms and kinetic expressions that describe the electrode reactions

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The TPB ion transfer process H2 H2 ONiYSZ

bull Extreme disagreement in the literaturebull Activation energies from 08 - 17 eVbull Dependencies on partial pressures of water and hydrogen vary

a lot - for hydrogen both negative and positive dependencies have been found

bull Model electrodes (Ni-point or -pattern) often studied to improve simplicity and reproducibility but with bad luck see eg Mogensen Jensen Joslashrgensen Primdahl Solid State Ionics 150 (2002)123-129

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

07 09 11 13 151000T [1K]

log(

1LS

Rp [

cm])

Reference pH2 [atm] pH2O [atm] Guindet et al (29) 02 00027 Norby et al (30) 00012 0006 Mizusaki et al (31) 001-005 0012-00165 Norby (32) 01-10 00085 Yamamura et al (33) 001 00085

de Boer Porous modified Porous unmodified Cermet

(34) 0905 0021

Bieberle (35) 0136 00005 Vels Jensen

Impure (24) Pure (25)

097 003

Hoslashgh Up Down Polarized

(38) 097 003

Arrhenius plots for selected results for Ni-SZ electrodes LSRp is length specific polarization resistance

~ log i0 (the exchange current density)

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Effect of H2 S is dependent on electrolyte type

bull

A strong effect of the electrolyte composition on the sensitivity to sulfur poisoning has been observed (K Sasaki et al J Electrochem Soc 153 (2006) A2023)

bull

While an SOFC with a Ni-YSZ-cermet electrode totally lost its voltage in less than 1 h in a test at 800 degC using H2 with 20 ppm H2 S as fuel a Ni-SSZ (scandia stabilized zirconia)-cermet operated stably at almost 600 mV (200 mAcm2) with 100 ppm H2 S

bull

This indicates An important part of the electrochemical reaction takes place at the electrolyte on such Ni-zirconia electrodes

bull Also confirmed by Risoslash DTU Look for Anke Hagen papers

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

HD isotope effectsbull For some Ni-zirconia electrodes a clear effect of changing

from H2 -H2 O to D2 -D2 O is observed - especially at temperatures below 850 degC - up to a factor of 14 (see eg S Primdahl and M Mogensen in SOFC-VI SC Singhal and M Dokiya Editors PV 99-19 p 530 The Electrochemical Society Proceedings Series Pennington NJ 1999)

bull This indicates that proton transportation (diffusion or electrical proton conductions) plays an important role in such electrodes

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Dependence on pH2 O

bull It seems that the reaction rate (current density) increases with increasing pH2 O in most cases

bull That the i0 is dependent is understandable but it is strange that the anodic oxidation rate of H2 into H2 O increases with the partial pressure on the reaction product H2 O

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

XPS of YSZ surface After Badwell and Drennan 1994

Y

SiTi

Na

50 h

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Ni ndash YSZ Interface

μm

150 nm

The rdquomountainsrdquo consist of a non- conducting foreign phase

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The impurities are there

Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

The problem which H2 H2 ONiSZ electrode

bull My explanation of the effects of water is that the properties of the segregations at the surface of the SZ and Ni - and in particular at the TPB - changes with PH2O due to up-take or release of water This will depend on the precise composition of the glassy impurities

bull Thus the problem is which Ni-SZ-electrode do we have at hand

bull It requires a very tedious and comprehensive characterization of a given electrode before it is possible to give a meaningful detailed mathematical description of the mechanism and the kinetics

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

From R A De Souza J Kilner Solid State Ionics 126 (1999) 153 ndash

161 The proposed relationship logk = -1 + 05 logD (given by the line) is from R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester Angew Chem Int Ed 43 (2004) 5069

All measured on single phase bodiessurfaces of the ionic materials using SIMS

Correlation of the effective surface rate constant k with theoxygen tracer bulk diffusion coefficient D A (LaSr)(MnCo)O3- z B (SmSr)(Co)O3-z C (LaSr)(CoFe)O3-z for electron-rich transition metal perovskites

D is proportional to the vacancy concentration

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Oxygen exchange on ABO3

R Merckle J Maier HJM Bouwmeester argue very convincingly that this is consistent with the following reaction

frac12 O2 Osrsquo + h fast

Orsquo + VO OOx + h slow oxygen incorporation into ABO3

A further contribution to the rate limitation is the diffusion of the oxide ions on the surface (or in bulk of the ABO3 )

In a real polarized composite electrode even more rate limiting processes are observed

Naturally the electrodeelectrolyte contact area and the three phase boundary (TPB) length are of major importance for the size of the current density

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes

bull Spectra may consist of at least five types of arcs

bull Arcs A and B is associated with oxide ion transfer through the composite electrode and into the YSZ electrolyte

bull Arc C is due to the oxygen incorporationoxide ion diffusion inon the ABO3

bull Arc D is caused by O2 gas diffusion

bull Arc E (inductive nature) originates from an activation process

Joslashrgensen amp Mogensen J Electrochem Soc 148 (2001) A433

1E4 1E

3 1E2

1E1

100 105 110

000

005

ECA B

b

a

1E4

1E3

1E1

1E0

092 096 100

000

004

DC

-Zim

ag

Ωcm

2

Zreal Ωcm2

1000 degC Air

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells

Approx summit freq A-D 025 kHz F 04 Hz (Air 750 ordmC)

A number of differently prepared electrodes were investigated

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure

LSM-YSZ electrode removed by acid etching

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

LSM electrode structure - performance correlation

rdquoCrater areardquototal area

LargeSOFC Summer School 2010

Concluding remarks

bull Be aware of the basic theory before starting your experiments

bull You have not learned enough during this short lecture

bull A lot of literature about SOFC electrode kinetics is rubbish because people have not made proper experiments and interpretations

bull So be critical and do you own better experiments If you cannot improve then do not

  • Introduction to fuel cells Fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics thermodynamics and solid state chemistry (II) for the experienced
  • Contents
  • A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy G (Gibbs free energy of reaction) of a cell reaction and the equilibrium (ideal) electrical voltage also called the electromotive force Emf of the cell is given by -G = n∙F∙Emf n is the number of electrons exchanged in the total reaction and F is The Faraday constant = 96485 Asmol
  • Important G and n must refer to the same reaction schemeExample 1 H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-frac12O2 + 2e- O2- H2 + frac12O2 H2O n = 2 and G0298 = - 286 kJmol H2Example 2 2H2 + 2O2- 2H2O + 4e- O2 + 4e- 2O2- 2H2 + O2 2H2O n = 4 and G0298 = - 572 kJmol O2
  • At standard conditions (25 degC and 1 atm)Emf = -G0(nF) = - (- 286 kJmol)(296485 Asmol) = - (- 572 kJmol)(496485 Asmol) = 123 V G = G0 + RTlnK K is the constant in the law of mass actionThis gives us the Nernst equation
  • The cell voltage may deviate from the theoretical Nernst voltage Some possible reasons are 1 The cell is under external electrical load 2 The cell has an internal electronic leak 3 The concentration of reactants are different from the assumed values eg due to gas leakage 4 The actual cell temperature is different from the measured 5 The cell has a thermal gradient ie the Emf + a thermoelectric voltage is measured
  • The reversible SOC
  • Reversible SOC
  • Slide Number 9
  • Slide Number 10
  • Slide Number 11
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage
  • Potential concepts - energy and voltage (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • The electric potentials in more details (cont)
  • Examples of a YSZ based cell
  • Electron defect concentration in YSZ
  • Potential course OCV 1000 C
  • Potential course SOFC mode
  • Potential course SOEC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOFC mode
  • Course of oxygen partial pressureSOEC mode
  • Conclusion on potentials
  • Questions 1
  • Polarisation of a cell
  • Types of polarisation resistance
  • Contact resistance
  • Small electrical contacts
  • Parameters important for constriction Resistance
  • Concluding remarks about contact resistances
  • Electrode reaction overvoltage or activation overvoltage
  • Slide Number 33
  • At low overvoltage the Butler-Volmer equation becomes linearAt high overvoltage it gets the same form as the Tafel equation = a b x logi using the absolute value of the current density and the plusmn sign for anodic and cathodic overpotentials respectively
  • Slide Number 35
  • i-V curves for other Risoslash SOCs
  • Activation overvoltage
  • Gas diffusion overvoltage
  • Gas conversion overvoltage
  • Measurements of electrolyte resistance reaction resistance and electrode overvoltage by EIS
  • Equivalent circuit
  • Risoslash three electrode (3-E) set-up
  • Slide Number 43
  • Interpretation
  • TPB related processes
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Equivalent circuits
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Graphical representations of EIS spectra
  • Analysis of differences in impedance spectra (ADIS)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • Distribution of relaxation times (DRT)
  • CNLS fitting
  • CNLS fitting
  • Slide Number 56
  • Slide Number 57
  • Slide Number 58
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Diffusion Impedance
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Gas Conversion ImpedancePrimdahl and Mogensen JES 145 2431 (1998)
  • Slide Number 71
  • Slide Number 72
  • Slide Number 73
  • Slide Number 74
  • Slide Number 75
  • Other strategies
  • Electrode mechanisms
  • The TPB ion transfer processH2H2ONiYSZ
  • Pointed or patterned Ni on YSZ
  • Effect of H2S is dependent on electrolyte type
  • HD isotope effects
  • Dependence on pH2O
  • Slide Number 83
  • Slide Number 84
  • Some possible reaction paths and barriers ndash but through or around the impurities
  • The problemwhich H2H2ONiSZ electrode
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Oxygen exchange on ABO3
  • Impedance of LSMYSZ composite cathodes
  • EIS of symmetric LSM-YSZ cells
  • LSM-YSZYSZ interface structure
  • LSM electrode structure - performance correlation
  • Concluding remarks
Page 67: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 68: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 69: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 70: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 71: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 72: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 73: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 74: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 75: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 76: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 77: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 78: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 79: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 80: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 81: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 82: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 83: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 84: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 85: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 86: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 87: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 88: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 89: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 90: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 91: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 92: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 93: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G
Page 94: Introduction to fuel cells: Fundamentals of electrochemical ......A fuel cell is a galvanic cell also called an electrochemical cell The relation between the chemical energy, Δ G