Comparative analysis of ceramic-carbonate nanocomposite fuel cells using composite GDC/NLC electrolyte with different perovskite structured cathode materials

doi:10.1007/s11705-017-1642-2

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2018, Vol. 12

Issue (1) : 162-173 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-017-1642-2

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Comparative analysis of ceramic-carbonate nanocomposite fuel cells using composite GDC/NLC electrolyte with different perovskite structured cathode materials

Muhammad I. Asghar(

), Sakari Lepikko, Janne Patakangas, Janne Halme, Peter D. Lund

New Energy Technologies Group, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. BOX 15100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland

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Abstract

A comparative analysis of perovskite structured cathode materials, La_0.65Sr_0.35MnO₃ (LSM), La_0.8Sr_0.2CoO₃ (LSC), La_0.6Sr_0.4FeO₃ (LSF) and La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O₃ (LSCF), was performed for a ceramic-carbonate nanocomposite fuel cell using composite electrolyte consisting of Gd_0.1Ce_0.9O_1.95 (GDC) and a eutectic mixture of Na₂CO₃ and Li₂CO₃. The compatibility of these nanocomposite electrode powder materials was investigated under air, CO₂ and air/CO₂ atmospheres at 550 °C. Microscopy measurements together with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) elementary analysis revealed few spots with higher counts of manganese relative to lanthanum and strontium under pure CO₂ atmosphere. Furthermore, electrochemical impedance (EIS) analysis showed that LSC had the lowest resistance to oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) (14.12 Ω·cm²) followed by LSF (15.23 Ω·cm²), LSCF (19.38 Ω·cm²) and LSM (>300 Ω·cm²). In addition, low frequency EIS measurements (down to 50 µHz) revealed two additional semi-circles at frequencies around 1 Hz. These semicircles can yield additional information about electrochemical reactions in the device. Finally, a fuel cell was fabricated using GDC/NLC nanocomposite electrolyte and its composite with NiO and LSCF as anode and cathode, respectively. The cell produced an excellent power density of 1.06 W/cm² at 550 °C under fuel cell conditions.

Keywords electrode fuel cell low-temperature nanocomposite perovskite

Corresponding Author(s): Muhammad I. Asghar

Just Accepted Date: 07 April 2017 Online First Date: 07 June 2017 Issue Date: 26 February 2018

Cite this article:

Muhammad I. Asghar,Sakari Lepikko,Janne Patakangas, et al. Comparative analysis of ceramic-carbonate nanocomposite fuel cells using composite GDC/NLC electrolyte with different perovskite structured cathode materials[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(1): 162-173.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-017-1642-2
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2018/V12/I1/162

Tab.1 The structure of the symmetric cells prepared by the co-pressing method

Fig.1 A setup for aging the electrode samples

Tab.2 The surface area and the pore volume of the electrodes of symmetric cells^a)

Fig.2 Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of the four nanocomposite electrode materials. Prior to the measurement, the samples were kept in an oven at 550 °C for 5 h under air, CO₂ and air (50 vol-%) + CO₂ (50 vol-%) atmospheres. The symbols used in the figure represent following materials: n LiNaCO₃, ??Li₂CO₃, ??SrCO₃

Fig.3 SEM images of symmetric cells with (a) LSM+ NLC, (b) LSC+ NLC, (c) LSF+ NLC and (d) LSCF+ NLC

Fig.4 TEM images of (a) the LSM+ NLC, and (b) the LSC+ NLC powder, (c) the LSF+ NLC powder and (d) the LSCF+ NLC powder. All aged under CO₂ atmosphere at 550 °C for 5 h. EDS was conducted on the marked areas in the images

Fig.5 EDS analysis on (a) area marked with “eds1”, (b) area marked with “ed4” in aged LSM+ NLC sample image shown in Fig. 4(a)

Fig.6 (a) An equivalent circuit model, (b) and (c) EIS of all the symmetric cells measured at 550 °C in air using a frequency range of 100 mHz to 100 kHz

Tab.3 Resistance values corresponding to electrode reactions using the equivalent circuit shown in Fig. 6(b) and a frequency range of 100 mHz to 100 kHz

Fig.7 (a) An equivalent circuit used to fit the data corresponding to low frequency measurements. Impedance data of the LSF cell measured at 550 °C in air, using a frequency range of (b) 0.2 mHz?100 kHz (after ageing the cell for 24 h at 550 °C) and c) 50 µHz?100 kHz (after ageing the cell for 280 h at 550 °C)

Tab.4 Resistance values corresponding to electrode reactions of LSF cell shown in Figs. 7(b) and 7(c) using the equivalent circuit^a)

Fig.8 A cyclic voltammetry measurement for a LSF cell

Fig.9 Cell voltage and power density versus current density under operating conditions, H₂ at anode and air+ CO₂ at cathode, at 550 °C

Fig.10 (a) EIS response of the cell measured at 550 °C using a frequency range of 100 mHz to 100 kHz, and (b) An equivalent circuit model to fit the EIS response of the cell

Tab.5 Resistance values corresponding to fuel cell processes using the equivalent circuit shown in Fig. 10(b)

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