Improved Mechanical Reliability for Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cell Using Alumina Dispersed Electrode Support

Abstract

The protonic ceramic electrochemical cell (PCEC) is increasingly attractive in energy conversion technologies like high temperature steam electrolysis and protonic solid oxide fuel cell. The mechanical durability and robustness of single PCEC, which is critical for technology scale-up and commercialization, is intrinsically lower than the conventional YSZ based oxygen ion conducting cells. In this research, we aim to increase the mechanical reliability of BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3−δ (BZCYYb) based PCEC by dispersing alumina into the NiO-BZCYYb electrode support. The influences of alumina dispersion on chemical stability, mechanical properties like bending strength (room and high temperature), residual stress, and electrical conductivity of the PCECs with (NiO–BZCYYb)1−x(Al2O3)x (x = 0.1–5 wt%) anode support are measured and analyzed in both oxidized and reduced conditions.