Recycling Strategies for Solid Oxide Cells

Abstract

AbstractAlongside the generation of renewable power and its storage in batteries, hydrogen technologies are essential to enable a deep decarbonization of the energy system. These technologies include solid oxide cells (SOCs), which can be operated as electrolyzers to generate hydrogen or syngas and/or for power supply in fuel cell mode and demonstrate the highest electrical efficiency among electrochemical converters. However, SOCs like other energy technologies contain significant amounts of critical raw materials, which should be preserved appropriately. Therefore, the development of economically viable recycling strategies is required even at an early market entry stage. In this paper, potential recycling routes for SOC stack components are discussed. Based on state‐of‐the‐art materials and cell designs, the future challenges related to SOC recycling are outlined, and possible recycling pathways for all SOC components are presented with an emphasis on the ceramic fractions. Their economic and environmental potentials are evaluated, showing the significant advantages offered by recycling.