Affiliation:
1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering Shiraz University Shiraz Iran
2. Department of Petroleum Engineering, School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Shiraz University Shiraz Iran
3. Department of Civil Engineering Monash University Melbourne Victoria Australia
Abstract
ABSTRACTHierarchically oriented macroporous NiO–BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ (BZCY7) anode‐supporting layer (ASL) was developed using the freeze casting technique. The resulting freeze‐cast structure was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray computed tomography. A thin layer of BZCY7 was utilized as a proton‐conducting electrolyte, whereas La1.9Sr0.1Ni0.7Cu0.3O3−δ –gadolinium‐doped ceria 10% Gd (LSNC–GDC10) was employed and evaluated as cathode layer. The performance of the cell was assessed by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and I–V–P curves at various temperatures. Furthermore, as a point of comparison, a cell with an ASL was prepared using the dry pressing method, incorporating 20 wt.% graphite as a pore‐forming agent. The freeze‐cast anode‐supported cell demonstrated a polarization resistance of 1.45 Ω cm2 at 550°C and 0.29 Ω cm2 at 750°C. Maximum achieved power densities were 0.189 and 0.429 W cm−2 at 550 and 750°C, respectively. For the cell fabricated by the dry pressing method, the maximum power densities were 0.158 and 0.397 W cm−2 at 550 and 750°C, respectively. Additionally, the tortuosity factor of the anode layer and the gas diffusion streamline in the direction of solidification were determined by using 3D X‐ray tomography imaging and subsequent image processing.