2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Development of efficient low-cost SOFC/SOEC protonic cathodes for reliable energy distribution
| Project/Area Number |
19K05672
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| Research Institution | Kyushu University |
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Principal Investigator |
Kwati Leonard 九州大学, カーボンニュートラル・エネルギー国際研究所, 助教 (70734391)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2025-03-31
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| Keywords | protonic defects / hydration / air electrode / oxygen vacancies / Electrolysis cell / fuel cell |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Ceramics proton conductors are promising electrolytes for low-temperature solid oxide fuel and Electrolysis cells (SOFC/SOECs), particularly at 300-600°C. Highly efficient mixed H+/e;/O2; triple conducting air electrodes are indispensable for improving the electrochemical performance of these devices since the oxygen reduction reaction in principle should extend beyond the three-phase boundary (i.e., double-phase boundary). The main objective of the current work is to develop efficient, low-cost SOFC/SOEC protonic cathodes for reliable energy distribution. During the past two years, progress has been made on several fronts. Firstly, the synthesis, evaluation, and screening of new protonic cathode materials, conducted in parallel with the fabrication of tri-layered half and single-cell assemblies using tape casting. After a systematic assessment of single perovskite-type LnCo0.5Ni0.5-xMxO3-δ (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, M=Zn and x=0, 0.05 0.1) this year. Our results so far show that PrCo0.5Ni0.5O3-δ and LaCo0.5Ni0.4Zn0.1O3-δ demonstrate efficient H+/e;/O2; triple conducting behavior due to a pronounced hydration ability at 300 and 400°C. Both materials undergo thermochemical hydration in wet air by defect association between oxygen vacancies and water molecules and gain protonic defects somewhat equivalent to the widely used proton-conducting ceramic concentration. Particular attention has been focused on the parent material to thoroughly understand and validate models for predicting the cathode material's protonic and/or oxygen transport properties.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Work on proton kinetics through the bulk of BLC, GBLC, LSCF, and the obtained new PrCo0.5Ni0.5O3-δ LaCo0.5Ni0.4Zn0.1O3-δ materials by isotope exchange experiments (18O and 2D2O tracers) and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry depth profiling is still ongoing. Slightly delayed by the present COVID-19 pandemic.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Phase III (FY2021)
Complete electrochemical evaluation of H+-SOFCs/ H+-SOECs performances and their stability assessment using the new P-MIECs under several pO2 and pH2O. H+-SOFCs with H2 and CH4.
Continue, work on proton kinetics through the bulk of protonic cathode materials by isotope exchange experiments (18O and 2D2O tracers) and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry depth profiling
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| Causes of Carryover |
1) to continue research work on phase III and for some uncompleted work in phase I of the present project proposal.
2) items high-grade chemical reagents for material synthesis,3) High purity gases, platinum lead wires, equipment maintenance
3)Open Flanges Setup, Long term test kit, and Accessories
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