Degradation mechanisms in La₀.₈Sr₀.₂CoO₃ as oxygen electrode bond layer in solid oxide electrolytic cells (SOECs)

High temperature steam electrolysis is an efficient process and a promising technology to convert electricity and steam or a mixture of steam and CO₂, into H₂ or syn-gas (H₂2 + CO) respectively. It is carried out in Solid Oxide Electrolytic Cells (SOECs). At the high temperature of operation, above 8000[degree] C, loss in the rate of hydrogen (or syn gas) production by SOECs has been observed. This loss of performance has been a scientific and technological challenge. The goal of this thesis is to identify the mechanisms for the loss in the electrochemical performance of SOECs due to the oxygen electrode and bond layer degradation. Our specific research objectives were focused on two main mechanisms: 1) Cr transport into the oxygen electrode and bond layer, and 2) Long-range segregation of cations in the bond layer. For SOECs provided by Ceramatec Inc. for this analysis, La₀.₈Sr₀.₂CoO₃ (LSC) was the bond layer and A₀.₈Sr₀.₂MnO₃ (ASM*) was the oxygen electrode, both comprised of perovskite structure. The approach in thesis integrated complementary spectroscopy and microscopy techniques in a novel manner to carry out the 'post-mortem' analysis of SOECs from a high level to a high resolution. Raman spectroscopy was employed to identify secondary phases on the top surface of LSC near the interconnect interphase. Surface chemistry and microstructure of the air electrode and the bond layer was studied using scanning Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) with nano-probe capability.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Nuclear Science and Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Sharma, Vivek Inder

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Bilge Yildiz.

• Nuclear Science and Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/57886

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/57886