Issue 20, 2011
From the journal:

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

Superstructure formation and variation in Ni–GDC cermet anodes in SOFC

Zhi-Peng Li,*a   Toshiyuki Mori,a   Graeme John Auchterlonie,b   Jin Zoubc  and  John Drennanb  

* Corresponding authors

a Global Research Center for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials Science, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan
E-mail: LI.Zhipeng@nims.go.jp
Fax: +81-29-8604712
Tel: +81-29-8513354 ext. 8544

b Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia

c Division of Materials, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia

Abstract

The microstructures and spatial distributions of constituent elements at the anode in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have been characterized by analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM). High resolution TEM observations demonstrate two different types of superstructure formation in grain interiors and at grain boundaries. Energy-filtered TEM elemental imaging qualitatively reveals that mixture zones exist at metal–ceramic grain boundaries, which is also quantitatively verified by STEM energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It was apparent that both metallic Ni and the rare-earth elements Ce/Gd in gadolinium-doped ceria can diffuse into each other with equal diffusion lengths (about 100 nm). This will lead to the existence of mutual diffusion zones at grain boundaries, accompanied by a change in the valence state of the diffusing ions, as identified by electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). Such mutual diffusion is believed to be the dominant factor that gives rise to superstructure formation at grain boundaries, while a different superstructure is formed at grain interiors, as a consequence solely of the reduction of Ce4+ to Ce3+ during H2 treatment. This work will enhance the fundamental understanding of microstructural evolution at the anode, correlating with advancements in sample preparation in order to improve the performance of SOFC anodes.

Graphical abstract: Superstructure formation and variation in Ni–GDC cermet anodes in SOFC

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/C1CP20296K
Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Feb 2011
Accepted
24 Mar 2011
First published
15 Apr 2011

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011,13, 9685-9690

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Superstructure formation and variation in Ni–GDC cermet anodes in SOFC

Z. Li, T. Mori, G. J. Auchterlonie, J. Zou and J. Drennan, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 9685 DOI: 10.1039/C1CP20296K

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