Characterization and analysis methods for the examination of the heterogeneous solid oxide fuel cell electrode microstructure: Part 2. Quantitative measurement of the microstructure and contributions to transport losses

Advanced characterization and analysis of multifunctional materials, such as the materials found in heterogeneous solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrode architectures, can help to provide a qualitative and quantitative understanding of how these structures respond to different manufacturing and operating practices. Dense, opaque materials, which have large X-ray mass absorption coefficients and features on sub-micrometer length scales, can make characterization difficult. Advances in tomographic X-ray imaging can permit this level of detailed characterization, and complement stereographic scanning electron microscope measurements that have also been reported. In this second part of a two-part study, details regarding quantitative characterization methods that have been used to examine the SOFC anode microstructure are reported. The detailed formulation and validation of a phase size distributions for the three constitutive phases, as well as resistive loss microstructure-induced resistive loss distributions in the nickel (Ni) and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) phases are provided in this section.