Steady-state electrode potentials of solid-electrolyte cells in reducing chemically nonequilibrium gas mixtures

Abstract

The paper studies the steady-state potential response of the electrodes of solid-electrolyte cells with ZrO2 + 9 mol % Y2O3 in reducing nonequilibrium gas mixtures of N2 + H2 + H2O + O2 with a low content of O2 and in the mixtures of CH4 + CO2 + CO with a low content of CO, in the temperature range of 450–900°C. The dependences of potentials of the electrodes of different materials on the temperature and composition of gas mixtures were measured. The results were compared with the values of potentials in corresponding mixtures after chemical equilibrium was established. Characteristic temperature were determined, above which the electrodes feature a potential corresponding to chemically equilibrium mixtures.