Microstructural Analysis of Solid Oxide Electrochemical Cells via 3D Reconstruction Using a FIB-SEM Dual Beam System

Abstract

Solid oxide electrochemical cells (SOCs) have attracted increasing attention as energy conversion devices due to their high efficiency. The microstructures of SOCs play a critical role in their electrochemical performance, however, characterizing them is challenging due to their heterogeneous microstructure. This paper describes a quantitative analysis of SOC microstructures via 3D reconstruction technique using a focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) dual beam system. The reconstructed SOC electrodes offer microstructural characteristics, including particle and pore size, tortuosity, connectivity, and triple-phase boundary (TPB) density. These in-depth analyses contribute to better understanding of the electrochemical behavior of SOCs.