Inverse approach to quantify multi-physicochemical properties of porous electrodes for solid oxide fuel cells

Porous electrodes are critical components of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The quantification of electrode properties is very significant for high fidelity modeling and underlying mechanism studies. In this research, an inverse approach is presented to determine multi-physicochemical properties of electrodes using cell polarization performance measurements and repulsive particle swarm optimization technique, without resorting to porous microstructure features, e.g., porosity, tortuosity, pore size. The mathematical model is developed using a proton conducting button cell test stand as the physical base and employed for inverse analysis. The approach is demonstrated using both simulated results and practical measurements. This research provides a new approach for practical SOFC analysis.

► A new approach is developed to determine porous electrode properties of SOFCs without resorting to random particle packing system assumption for electrodes.
► The detailed analysis of transport processes in SOFCs is achieved using experimental polarization data without resorting to porous microstructure features, such as porosity, tortuosity, pore size.
► The research provides a new approach for practical SOFC analysis, where porous microstructure of electrodes is not known a priori.