Elementary kinetic modeling of solid oxide fuel cell electrode reactions

Abstract

AbstractThis article reviews elementary kinetic modeling approaches for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anodes and cathodes. By the termelementary kinetics, we refer generally to the idea that the overall observed rate of an electrode reaction is governed by the rates of individual subprocesses that include elementary reaction steps (surface reactions, electron‐transfer steps) and transport (surface diffusion, bulk transport). For the cathode, oxygen reduction mechanisms are discussed for two materials systems, platinum (Pt) and strontium‐doped lanthanum cobaltite (La1−xSrxCoO3−δ, LSC). For the anode, oxidation mechanisms for hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons are discussed for the platinum/ and nickel/yttria‐stabilized zirconia (Pt/YSZ, Ni/YSZ) materials system. The article also covers a general presentation of elementary kinetic modeling concepts and assumptions, the integration of elementary kinetics within a multiscale modeling framework, and consistent approaches for interpreting experimental results.