Premium
The Interdependence of Macro‐ and Microstructure on Internal‐Reforming Performance in Ni‐YSZ SOFC Anode Supports
Author(s) -
Richards A. E.,
Sullivan N. P.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.201200193
Subject(s) - anode , microstructure , solid oxide fuel cell , yttria stabilized zirconia , materials science , steam reforming , methane , ceramic , chemical engineering , cubic zirconia , nanotechnology , electrode , metallurgy , chemistry , catalysis , hydrogen production , biochemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
This paper presents an analysis of the gas‐transport and methane internal‐reforming characteristics of two commercially developed solid‐oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode supports. The anode supports are fabricated by CoorsTek, Inc. (Golden, CO, USA) and Risø‐DTU (Lyngby, Denmark). While both supports are ceramic‐metallic composites of yttria‐stabilized zirconia and nickel (Ni‐YSZ), their morphological structures and thicknesses are quite different. The CoorsTek support is thick and displays an open microstructure, while the Risø‐DTU support is fairly thin with a tighter morphology. These micro‐ and macrostructural differences lead to significant variations in gas transport and methane internal‐reforming chemistry within the porous support structures that directly affect cell performance. In this study, anode‐support performance is analyzed using the separated anode experiment, a unique tool that decouples anode‐support thermal‐chemistry processes from electrochemical processes typically underway during SOFC operation. Experimental results are interpreted using a detailed computational model. Gas transport is higher in the CoorsTek support despite being nearly five times thicker than the Risø‐DTU support. The methane internal‐reforming performance of the Risø‐DTU anode, however, speaks to its tighter microstructure and resulting higher catalytic surface area. These results highlight the dependence of support performance on macro‐ and microstructure in terms of gas transport and internal‐reforming chemistry.