Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1447372 Acta Materialia 2010 12 Pages PDF
Abstract

Environmental transmission electron microscopy is used in combination with density functional theory calculations to study the redox stability of a nickel/yttria-stabilized zirconia solid oxide fuel cell anode. The results reveal that the transfer of oxygen from NiO to yttria-stabilized zirconia triggers the reduction reaction. During Ni reoxidation, the creation of a porous structure, due to mass transport, accounts for the redox instability of the Ni-based anode. Both the expansion of NiO during a redox cycle and the presence of stress in the yttria-stabilized zirconia grains are observed directly. Besides providing an understanding of the Ni–YSZ anode redox degradation, the observations are used to propose an alternative anode design for improved redox tolerance.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Materials Science Ceramics and Composites
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