Ageing of solid electrolytes and electrode materials in electrochemical devices

Abstract

The ageing behavior reported in this work concerns the consequences of the matter transport processes on the cationic sublattice which occur in solid electrolytes, mixed ionic conducting compounds and semiconducting oxides subjected to a chemical potential gradient, an applied electrical field or a mechanical stress gradient. The principle of the kinetic demixing under a “generalized” thermodynamic potential gradient is reviewed. Available experimental results concerning yttria-doped zirconia and iono-covalent oxides are reported. The results are discussed in relation with the microstructure and composition evolution of the surfaces and the electrode resistance.