Construction of a new design basis toward the manufacturing of high toughness electrode in solid oxide fuel cells

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H02033
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 18010:Mechanics of materials and materials-related
• Research Institution: Chiba Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Hara Shotaro 千葉工業大学, 工学部, 准教授 (10401134)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 鹿園 直毅 東京大学, 生産技術研究所, 教授 (30345087)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 固体酸化物形燃料電池 / FIB-SEM / 微細構造 / 焼結 / 破壊 / シミュレーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, a novel numerical technique, capable of predicting the damage evolution in porous materials at meso-scale, has been well developed. Using this technique, the porosity dependence on fracture properties for cathode materials has been simulated. In addition, the micro-indentation experiments were conducted to obtain the porosity dependence of fracture toughness. Furthermore, using a focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope system, the crack propagation mechanism in a porous electrode were clarified. Finally, a basis of deep learning model using convolutional neural networks that can predict the relationship between mechanical properties and microstructure of porous electrode has been developed.

Free Research Field

材料力学・材料強度

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

固体酸化物形燃料電池電極の信頼性と耐久性を向上するためには、多孔質電極の脆性的な破壊特性の理解が必要不可欠である。本研究では、集束イオンビームー走査型電子顕微鏡を用いて，微小押し込み試験中に多孔体電極内部に発生するき裂進展の様子とそのメカニズムを初めて明らかにした。さらに，多孔体電極の脆性的にき裂が進展する様子を予測できるシミュレーション技術を構築した。得られた技術を発展させることによって、高靭性かつ安全な燃料電池製造が実現可能となる．