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Freeze‐cast yttria‐stabilized zirconia pore networks: Effects of alcohol additives
Author(s) -
Miller Sarah,
Xiao Xianghui,
Setlock John,
Farmer Serene,
Faber Katherine
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of applied ceramic technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.4
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1744-7402
pISSN - 1546-542X
DOI - 10.1111/ijac.12794
Subject(s) - materials science , yttria stabilized zirconia , dispersant , porosity , cubic zirconia , chemical engineering , slurry , phase (matter) , solid oxide fuel cell , ceramic , composite material , dispersion (optics) , organic chemistry , electrode , chemistry , anode , physics , optics , engineering
Freeze casting yttria‐stabilized zirconia ( YSZ ) can be useful in making electrodes for solid oxide fuel cells ( SOFC s) by introducing hierarchical porosity to increase triple‐phase boundary ( TPB ) area while maintaining adequate fuel flow. In this study the influence of alcohol additives on pore structure of aqueous YSZ freeze‐cast samples was investigated. Slurries with ethanol, iso‐propyl alcohol, or methanol as additives were compared to a control sample. Pore characteristics along sample lengths were measured using X‐ray computed tomography reconstructions. The control sample showed significant changes in pore size along sample length, whereas pore size of the alcohol additive samples remained similar, indicating that freezing rates of the additive samples remained constant during solidification. Ice lens formation and interactions between alcohols and slurry functional additives (dispersant, surfactant, and binder) resulted in complex pore structures which show promise in increasing SOFC TPB area.