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At least 73 records · Page 4

Scalable Solution-Processed Electrolyte Membranes with Optimized Microstructure for High-Performance Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells

Proton-conducting electrochemical cells (PCECs) are promising for efficient hydrogen production, but achieving dense, uniform, thin electrolyte layers remains a key challenge, particularly for scalable fabrication. Here, we present a solution-processed deposition approach with a mechanistically optimized slurry for uniform electrolyte formation. By tailoring particle size distribution, solid loading, and solvent/additive balance, we regulated wetting behavior and evaporation kinetics of the electrolyte slurry to promote homogeneous electrolyte particle packing. These features facilitate tight grain boundary contact and early stage neck growth during sintering, eliminating residual porosity, and improving mechanical integrity. The resulting ∼15 μm thick electrolyte shows high density, strong electrode adhesion, and stable interfaces outperforming the previously reported spray-based fabricated electrolyte by about 31% at 600 °C in FC mode. Single cells deliver 0.962 W cm –2 at 600 °C in fuel cell mode and 1.31 A cm –2 at 1.3 V in electrolysis mode, maintaining robust performance over 100 h with negligible degradation (≤0.02% h –1 ) in each mode. Scale-up to 2.5 cm diameter substrates confirmed reproducible densification and geometric stability. This work demonstrates a cost-effective, scalable route where control over particle-fluid interactions and drying dynamics enables a superior electrolyte microstructure and high PCEC performance.

dense microstructure↗

Deconvolution of Water-Splitting on the Triple-Conducting Ruddlesden–Popper-Phase Anode for Protonic Ceramic Electrolysis Cells

Triple-conducting materials have been proved to improve the performance of popular protonic ceramic electrolysis cells. However, partially because of the complexity of the water splitting reaction involving three charge carriers, that is, oxygen (O 2– ), proton (H + ), and electron (e – ), the triple-conducting reaction mechanism was not clear, and the reaction conducting pathways have seldom been addressed. In this study, the triple conducting Ruddlesden–Popper phase Pr 1.75 Ba 0.25 NiO 4+δ as an anode on the BaCe 0.7 Zr 0.1 Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3–δ electrolyte was fabricated and its electroresponses were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with various atmospheres and temperatures. The impedance spectra are deconvoluted by means of the distribution of the relaxation time method. The surface exchange rate and chemical diffusivity of H + and O 2– are characterized by electrical conductivity relaxation. The physical locations of electrochemical processes are also identified by atomic layer deposition with a surface inhibitor. A microkinetics model is proposed toward conductivities, triple-conducting pathways, reactant dependency, surface exchange and bulk diffusion capabilities, and other relevant properties. Lastly, the rate-limiting steps and suggestions for further improvement of electrode performance are presented.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Highly efficient La/Ni co-doped strontium titanate catalyst for co-production of propylene and hydrogen from propane in protonic ceramic electrochemical cells

A highly efficient La/Ni co-doped strontium titanate (LSNT) perovskite catalyst is developed and integrated in a protonic ceramic electrochemical cell for co-production of propylene and high-purity hydrogen from commercial propane feedstock. Propane conversion and hydrogen production rate can be effectively enhanced under an applied current due to the electrochemical promotion effect and/or shifted reaction equilibrium induced by rapid separation of hydrogen product. Water vapor in the feed gas could significantly improve the catalyst stability by suppressing the coke formation. The propane conversion could reach up to 53% at 600 °C under a current density of 90 mA cm −2 . The LSNT catalyst also shows excellent tolerance for the sulfur contaminant in commercial propane gas. Finally, the excellent performance of the LSNT catalyst is attributed to the highly active and selective Ni species at the interface with the perovskite substrate, which are formed in situ via reduction-induced exsolution under reaction conditions.

interfacial active sites↗

Extended Finite Element Based Approach in Additive Manufacturing Modeling for Optimizing Highly Complex Manifold in Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells

The objective of this project is to develop a novel numerical approach based on the extended finite element method (XFEM) for modeling moving boundaries of material deposited in additive manufacturing (AM) process with improved accuracy and reduced computational cost. One of the major challenges in simulating AM processes is that the boundaries of the computational domain need to change as material is deposited. Previous approaches have achieved this by activating new finite elements, but this requires a high level of mesh refinement to capture small movement of the boundary. XFEM allows the solution boundary to move independently of the mesh, permitting smooth representation of the evolution of the boundary as material is deposited. As a result, this new method will significantly improve the simulation accuracy while reducing the computational cost compared with existing approaches. Furthermore, this project will bring significant improvements for the design and AM process optimization in an iterative fashion among numerical simuation, parameter optimization, and experimental validation. Specifically, this project will support the protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (PCEC) stack development at INL by providing insights into the density, residual stress, thermal and mechanical properties of the PCEC manifold and interconnect, which is critical in enhancing the system lifetime and reducing the overall cost. Upon the success of proposed development and validation of the proposed approach, simulation will be applied to determine an optimal set of AM process parameters for the PCEC manifold production. This project will consolidate Idaho National Laboratory (INL)’s simulation capabilities provided by the MOOSE framework and the Valhalla AM simulation application, with encouraging expansion to emerging PCEC applications and AM technologies at INL and beyond.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Stable perovskite-fluorite dual-phase composites synthesized by one-pot solid-state reactive sintering for protonic ceramic fuel cells

We report that this work synthesized a series of oxide composites with nominal compositions of BaCe 05 Zr 0.4 Y 0.1 O 3-δ (BCZY)-Ce 0.5 Y 0.5 O 2-δ (YDC) based on the BCZY/YDC molar ratios of 0.5:1, 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1 (BCZY-YDC-0.5–1, BCZY-YDC-1-1, BCZY-YDC-2-1, and BCZY-YDC-4-1) using a one-pot solid state reactive sintering (SSRS) method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and refinement proved that the one-pot SSRS at 1450 °C for 12 h could achieve the perovskite-fluorite dual-phase composites (DPCs) with the desired structure compositions. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the two DPCs of BCZY-YDC-1-1 and BCZY-YDC-2-1 formed excellent percolation for perovskite and fluorite phases. The conductivity measurement by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the transference number measurement by the electromotive force (EMF) test proved that changing the BCZY/YDC molar ratio and operating condition could adjust the DPC's conduction property to make them suitable for electrolytes and electrode scaffolds for protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs). The long-term conductivity testing and the crystal structure analysis after EMF testing under versatile conditions indicated that the DPCs of BCZY-YDC-2-1 and BCZY-YDC-1-1 were durable PCFC component materials. The PCFC button cells with the as-discovered BCZY-YDC-2-1 and BCZY-YDC-1-1 as an electrolyte and an anode scaffold, respectively, and the reported Ba–Ce–Fe–Co–O perovskite-perovskite composite as a cathode showed promising performance under H 2 /air gradient.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Proton surface exchange kinetics of perovskite triple conducting thin films for protonic ceramic electrolysis cells: BaPr 0.9 Y 0.1 O 3–δ (BPY) vs. Ba 1–x Co 0.4 Fe 0.4 Zr 0.1 Y 0.1 O 3–δ (BCFZY)

Protonic ceramic electrolysis cells (PCECs) are an attractive green H 2 production technology, given their intermediate-temperature operating range and ability to produce dry H 2 . However, PCECs will benefit from development of more efficient and durable “triple conducting” anodes where steam is split, H incorporated, and oxygen evolved. In this work, we evaluated the kinetics of the steam-splitting/H incorporation reaction on BaPr 0.9 Y 0.1 O 3–δ (BPY) in comparison to the benchmark Ba 1–x Co 0.4 Fe 0.4 Z r0.1 Y 0.1 O 3–δ (BCFZY) composition, replacing most of the transition metal elements (Co, Fe, Zr) with the lanthanide Pr. We prepared geometrically well-defined perovskite BPY and BCFZY thin films by pulsed laser deposition and performed simultaneous optical transmission relaxation and electrical conductivity relaxation measurements at 400–500 °C in 0.21 atm O 2 during switching of the steam partial pressure to isolate and compare their proton surface exchange coefficients (k). The k values of BPY were comparable to those of BCFZY and more stable over time. According to angle-resolved XPS and STEM-EDS mapping of FIB cross-sections, the surface of BPY exhibited Ba enrichment, Pr deficiency, and Si contamination. In contrast, BCFZY exhibited Ba deficiency throughout, no obvious surface segregation, and less Si contamination. The Ba segregation on the BPY film appears to have promoted steam splitting/H incorporation kinetics even though the more basic surface reacted with the acidic environmental SiO x H y . Faster kinetics observed on stoichiometric BCFZY vs. Ba-deficient BCFZY confirmed the benefit of a high A-site Ba concentration. This result contrasts with most work on perovskites applied in solid oxide electrolysis cell anodes, in which A-site segregation is considered deleterious for surface reaction kinetics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

How Interface Evolution at the Nanoscale Dictates Protonic Ceramic Cell Behavior

Understanding the effects of heterointerfaces in nanodevices remains a challenge in interface engineering for systems applied in solid oxide fuel cells, catalysis, sensors, and memristors [1]. Previous studies have shown that the presence of interfaces in ceramic oxide nanodevices affects their impedance properties compared to bulk systems [2]. In this work, we analyze a thin-film model system designed to study the interfaces between representative electrode and electrolyte materials employed in protonic ceramic electrochemical cells for the reversible conversion of hydrogen o electricity. The investigated device features a 21-layer architecture that alternates between an electrode material PBSCF (PrBa 0.5 Sr 0.5 Co 1.5 Fe 0.5 O 5+ϵ ) and a proton-conducting electrolyte BZY (BaZr 0.8 Y 0.2 O 3-δ ), with uniform 20 nm thickness for each layer. Here, the device was fabricated using Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) and supported on a conductive Nb-doped STO (Nb-SrTiO 3 ) substrate.

dos Santos, Gabriel T. [Northwestern University, E↗

In Situ Nanoscale Dynamics Imaging in a Proton‐Conducting Solid Oxide for Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells

Abstract Hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzers operating below 600 °C, ideally below 400 °C, are essential components in the clean energy transition. Yttrium‐doped barium zirconate BaZr 0.8 Y 0.2 O 3‐d (BZY) has attracted a lot of attention as a proton‐conducting solid oxide for electrochemical devices due to its high chemical stability and proton conductivity in the desired temperature range. Grain interfaces and topological defects modulate bulk proton conductivity and hydration, especially at low temperatures. Therefore, understanding the nanoscale crystal structure dynamics in situ is crucial to achieving high proton transport, material stability, and extending the operating range of proton‐conducting solid oxides. Here, Bragg coherent X‐ray diffractive imaging is applied to investigate in situ and in 3D nanoscale dynamics in BZY during hydration over 40 h at 200 °C, in the low‐temperature range. An unexpected activity of topological defects and subsequent cracking is found on a nanoscale covered by the macroscale stability. The rearrangements in structure correlate with emergent regions of different lattice constants, suggesting heterogeneous hydration. The results highlight the extent and impact of nanoscale processes in proton‐conducting solid oxides, informing future development of low‐temperature protonic ceramic electrochemical cells.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Electrochemically Engineered, Highly Energy-Efficient Conversion of Ethane to Ethylene and Hydrogen below 550 °C in a Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cell

Ethylene is one of the largest building blocks in the petrochemical industry, mainly produced by steam cracking of ethane derived from naphtha or shale gas at high temperatures (>800 °C). Despite its technical maturity and economic competitiveness, the thermal steam cracking of ethane is highly energy-intensive. In this work, an electrochemically engineered direct conversion process of ethane to produce hydrogen and ethylene using a planar protonic ceramic membrane reactor with a bi-functional three-dimensional catalytic electrode is reported, with a single-pass ethane conversion of 40% and ethylene yield of 26.7% at 550 °C. Compared with the industrial ethane steam cracking, this method saves process energy input by 45.1% and improves process energy efficiency by 50.6%, based on comprehensive process simulation using Aspen Plus software. Further, steam electrolysis treatment under the solid oxide electrolysis cell mode can regenerate the system’s catalytic performance and significantly alleviate catalytic degradation by 74%, demonstrating high techno-economic viability.

bi-functional electrode↗

Understanding Direct-Ammonia Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells: High-Performance in the Absence of Precious Metal Catalysts

Ammonia has received considerable attention as a promising carbon-free hydrogen carrier. At temperatures above 400 °C, NH 3 is thermodynamically unstable with respect to decomposition into nitrogen and hydrogen and is, thus, suitable for direct use in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) without external reforming. However, poor catalytic activity for ammonia decomposition at the moderate temperatures of protonic ceramic fuel cell (PCFC) operation has resulted in low fuel cell power output relative to operation on hydrogen and likely contributes to reported cell degradation. Here we prepared cells based on a thermodynamically robust electrolyte, a high activity cathode, and an anode with a distinctive structure to overcome challenges of poor activity and stability. Furthermore, the cells delivered peak power densities of 0.59 and 0.44 W cm –2 under H 2 and NH 3 , respectively, at 500 °C, excellent stability over a period of 200 h, and no detectable NO x in the anode exhaust gas.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Regulation of Cathode Mass and Charge Transfer by Structural 3D Engineering for Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cell at 400 °C

Abstract Lowering the operating temperature (ideally below 400 °C) for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology deployment has been an important transition that introduces the benefit of reduced operational costs and system durability. However, the key technical issue limiting the transition is the sluggish cathodic performance, namely the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) rate of the conventional sponge‐like cathode dramatically drops as the temperature reduces. In this paper, 3D engineering of a cathode is conducted on a protonic ceramic fuel cell to obtain an enhanced ORR between 400 and 600 °C. Compared with a cell using a conventional sponge‐like cathode, 3D engineering improves the cathode ORR by 41% at 400 °C with a peak power density of 0.410 W cm −2 . A phase field simulation is applied to assist the engineering by understanding the competition between the cathode mass and charge transfer with different cathode porosities. The results show that structural engineering of existing well‐developed cathodes is a simple and effective method to promote cathode ORR for low temperature SOFC by regulating the mass and charge transfer.

Bian, Wenjuan↗

Integrated protonic ceramic electrochemical cell for sustainable energy economy using water-energy nexus framework

Reliance on fossil fuels will continue for the next decades even though there are global pushes away from it to mitigate the overarching climate challenge, most especially by its highest consumers and availability. While there is a hastening global shift away from fossil fuel, integrating its assets into this technology helps limit the risk and future losses of stranded assets and reduce the cost of investment in the new technologies. Moreover, the generation of electricity from intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind has witnessed a significant surge in recent years, leading to a pressing demand for practical energy storage systems. Electrical energy storage is anticipated to play a pivotal role in the future global energy system, facilitating load-leveling operations to support the greater integration of renewable and distributed generation. Reversible electrochemical cells (RECs) offer a promising option for addressing the fossil fuel assets integration and energy storage challenges through the interconversion between electrical and chemical energy and concurrent utilizing carbon emission. In their electrolysis mode, the RECs convert electricity into durable, storable, and portable valuable chemical fuels such as syngas and methane. Conversely, the produced chemical fuels can be used as reactants in the fuel cell mode to generate electricity on demand with minimal (hydrocarbons) or zero when H2 or NH3 is used emissions. However, a challenging goal for this type of technology remains to achieve optimal operation and high roundtrip efficiencies, which has hindered the deployment of previous electrochemical cells. This dissertation demonstrates how reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (RePCECs) can be integrated with fossil fuel power plants and renewable energy sources as a potential energy storage system. In this work, integrated RePCEC systems are designed and examined using computational modeling at scales to determine appropriate system configurations and operating conditions that achieve high roundtrip efficiencies. Cell level design of the PCEC is the first approach, several cells are assembled for the stack level model that is integrated into combined cycle powerplant and solar photovoltaic for the system level model. After critical literature review, this answered the operational and integration research questions proposed to address these challenges. The designed systems perform two functions, utilizing captured CO2 and storing renewable energy through co-electrolysis of steam and CO2. The co-electrolysis reaction involves endothermic water electrolysis and exothermic methanation reaction. To enhance high roundtrip efficiency, there is a need for thermal balance and management in the electrolysis mode. This involves operating the RePCEC stack under conditions that favor methane production to balance out heat needed by water electrolysis, it crucial for the RePCEC system operation. Methanation is enhanced by low temperatures. Leveraging on fabricated BCZYYb-electrolyte RePCEC, the cell model designed revealed that the optimum temperature for methane production is 450℃ at atmospheric pressure. Thus, to achieve optimum system performance, operating in the temperature range 450-525℃ is recommended at the given configuration, combining between the optimum temperature for methane production and temperature for the optimum stack roundtrip efficiency. Configuration with carbon capture system and purge stream is the optimum configuration from the seven conceptualized and evaluated. The modeling outcomes include a thermodynamic examination of integrated RePCEC systems, calibration of cell and stack level models, and steady-state simulation and integration into a 600MW combined cycle power plant retrofitted with two two-stage membrane-based carbon capture system and a wastewater treatment and recovery unit. At 100% powerplant loading, the stack and system roundtrip efficiencies are 72% and 51.37% respectively. Adding a purge stream for produced hydrogen at the system downstream improves the efficiencies to 74 and 55.48% respectively. At atmospheric pressure and 525℃, the system model suggests that a stack roundtrip of 82% is achievable, and overall system efficiency increases by reducing the energy consumption by the balance of plant components for steam generation and storage. Economic analysis of the process gives levelized cost of methane as $2.24/MMBtu lower than the conventional production route that range between $3.46/MMBtu and $9.85/MMBtu. The lifecycle analysis shows that the global warming potential for the production of methane and hydrogen from the RePCEC system is 3.83 kg CO2 eq which is lower than 9.35 kg CO2 eq emission during steam methane reforming for hydrogen production. This answered both the environmental and economic concerns in the raised research question. The proposed RePCEC configuration and analysis carried out in this dissertation to address the surge in renewable energy and challenges with PCEC technology hold significant potential in achieving large-scale energy storage while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions. These advancements, coupled with suitable governmental policies and incentive programs, have the potential to economically disrupt the natural gas industries by using RePCEC systems for methane production, thereby making them more favorable for eventual implementation and commercialization.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Protonic Ceramics for Energy Storage & Electricity Generation with Ammonia (Final Report)

The commercial product resulting from this R&D project will enable cost-effective synthesis of the Carbon Neutral Liquid Fuel (CNLF) ammonia, a common chemical, at a small scale for energy and industrial applications using only intermittent renewable energy, water, and air as feedstocks. These products are also capable of producing electrical energy from the CNLF in a fuel cell mode of operation. Thus, the eventual commercial product enables both single direction production of either CLNF or electricity, or alternatively functions as a fully reversible, self-contained energy storage device. The renewed interest in developing electrolysis systems is driven, in part, by the burgeoning renewable, solar, and wind industries and the need for an energy conversion and storage technology that can convert intermittent solar and wind energy into the production of hydrogen. Electrolysis systems integrated into both distributed and central renewable power plants would utilize solar and wind energy as their primary power source to produce renewably generated hydrogen for local energy storage or chemical feedstock purposes. Ammonia is an excellent surrogate for hydrogen transportation. NH3 presents an attractive alternative to hydrogen as a working fluid in reversible devices towards a sustainable green energy-oriented future. Ammonia can be easily liquefied at room temperature at about 8 bar or at -33°C at ambient pressure. In contrast, the liquefaction temperature of hydrogen is -253°C at ambient pressure. NH3 has a significantly higher volumetric energy density (12.7 MJ/L) than compressed hydrogen (4.5 MJ/L at ~70 MPa) or liquefied hydrogen (8.5 MJ/L). Additionally, ammonia is a widely used raw material for agriculture fertilizer and thus has well-established storage, transport, and handling processes (about 180 million tons of ammonia are produced annually). Techno-economic analysis suggests ammonia is the least expensive fuel among hydrogen, gasoline, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and methanol.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Laser 3D printing of highly compacted protonic ceramic electrolyzer stack

Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) for H 2 production is a core technology for H2@scale. However, its conventional manufacturing methods adapted from the manufacture of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) need high cost, especially for small-volume production. The emerging laser 3D printing (L3DP) technology with computer-aided 3D printing and computer-controlled laser processing can fulfill layer-by-layer digital shaping and rapid in-situ consolidating feedstock into complicated geometries. L3DP, a promising additive manufacturing (AM) technology, has achieved significant success in manufacturing plastic and metal parts, which is currently attracting considerable attention for the cost-effective, rapid, and flexible manufacturing of heterogeneous multilayered ceramic devices (e.g., SOECs, SOFCs, and solid-state batteries). It is believed that the L3DP can integrate the advantages of selective consolidation of heterogeneous layers, accurate control of layer microstructures, high processing heat efficiency, high processing speed, high stack compactness, high stack design flexibility, and low stack sealing area for cost-effective, rapid, and flexible manufacturing of SOECs to meet DOE’s electrolyzer target.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Low-Cost Intermediate-Temperature Fuel-Flexible Protonic-Ceramic Fuel Cell and Stack

Large, centralized power plants are currently the most efficient way to convert fuels such as natural gas to electricity. Fuel cells, however, could become highly efficient generators across a range of sizes from tens of watts to megawatts. In particular, fuel cells with an electrical efficiency of 50% could displace small generators of 25 kilowatts (kW) or less in applications such as remote power, telecommunications, and residential cogeneration. Current 25 kW natural gas generators employing internal combustion engines are typically only 25-30% efficient and expensive to maintain. Furthermore, fuel cells could provide valuable services to the grid, such as the ability to ramp power up or down in response to load conditions. While there are different types of fuel cells, each with their strengths and weaknesses, fuel cells generally are very expensive. For example, lower temperature fuel cells can be started up quickly, but require highly pure hydrogen fuel and expensive catalysts. High-temperature fuel cells can operate on a range of fuels, but they have costly system components and can degrade rapidly.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

Electrical, thermal, and H 2 O and CO 2 poisoning behaviors of PrNi 0.5 Co 0.5 O 3-δ electrode for intermediate temperature protonic ceramic electrochemical cells

PrNi 0.5 Co 0.5 O 3-δ (PNC) exhibits adequate total electrical conductivity (~300 S/cm at 400–600 °C) and moisture has no significant effect on it. The thermal expansion coefficient of PNC is 17.6 × 10 –6 /K by dilatometry and 18.43 × 10 –6 /K by in situ XRD. PNC also demonstrates chemical stability against H 2 O and CO 2 . However, PNC symmetrical cell over proton-conducting BaZr 0.4 Ce 0.4 Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3-δ (BZCYYb4411) electrolyte shows significant H 2 O and CO 2 poisoning when those are introduced into O 2 –N 2 mixture. In comparison, symmetrical cells with PNC electrode over the oxygen ion conducting Ce 0.9 Gd 0.1 O 2-δ (GDC) electrolyte show no H 2 O and CO 2 poisoning under similar conditions. Here, it is hypothesized that poisoning from H 2 O and CO 2 of the PNC proton conducting symmetrical cell is caused by their adsorption on the BZCYYb4411 electrolyte instead of PNC electrode. Such a hypothesis is supported by the H 2 O and CO 2 adsorption behaviors on PNC and BZCYYb4411 powder surfaces, as measured by temperature programmed desorption (TPD).

08 HYDROGEN↗