Solid Oxide Fuel Cells damage mechanisms due to Ni-YSZ re-oxidation: Case of the Anode Supported Cell

The effects of Ni-YSZ cermet re-oxidation in anode supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) have been investigated. Damage mechanisms have been studied in both cases of direct oxidation in air (i.e., fuel shutdown) or by an ionic current (i.e., fuel starvation).Direct oxidation tests show that the electrolyte cracks for a conversion degree of Ni into NiO ranging between ∼58 and ∼71%. This failure mode has been modelled considering both the bulk expansion of the cermet induced by the transformation of the Ni phase and the change of mechanical stresses in the multilayered cell.In the case of fuel starvation, a thin layer of the cermet was electrochemically re-oxidised at 800 °C and then reduced under a hydrogen stream. This ‘redox’ cycle was repeated until the degradation of the cell. The evolution of the impedance diagrams recorded after each cycle suggests that the cermet damages in an area close to anode/electrolyte interface. The mechanical modelling states that a delamination can occur along the interface between the Anode Functional Layer (AFL) and the Anode Current Collector (ACC) substrate. This theoretical result confirms the experimental trends observed by impedance spectroscopy.