Nondestructive Imaging and Analysis of Transport Processes in the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode

Abstract

Three-dimensional reconstruction methods, such as the non-destructive transmission x-ray imaging with tomographic reconstruction, have enabled the micro- to nano-scale characterization of the porous solid oxide fuel cell electrode structures. This work provides an examination on the use of several methods being developed by the authors to quantitatively characterize and examine electrode structures in the SOFC. The porous Ni-YSZ cermet anode is used as a framework for this study. Specific attention is paid to the effect these types of structures may have on the functional electrochemical behavior that must be supported by the SOFC; including transport phenomena in the electrode structure in addition to accounts of the interfaces associated with the electrochemical and heterogeneous catalytic phenomena. Phenomenological structures are used to support these efforts. Further, a quantitative description of the characteristic lengths of the electrode structure is discussed in this work.