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Microstructure and Connectivity Quantification of Complex Composite Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrode Three‐Dimensional Networks
Author(s) -
Gostovic Danijel,
Vito Nicholas J.,
O'Hara Kathryn A.,
Jones Kevin S.,
Wachsman Eric D.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2010.04111.x
Subject(s) - composite number , cathode , materials science , focused ion beam , scanning electron microscope , microstructure , transmission electron microscopy , oxide , solid oxide fuel cell , electrode , composite material , particle (ecology) , chemical engineering , topology (electrical circuits) , nanotechnology , ion , metallurgy , chemistry , anode , electrical engineering , organic chemistry , oceanography , engineering , geology
Composite electrodes extend the electrochemically active region for solid oxide fuel cells. The complex microstructural and chemical composition of composite cathodes often make them difficult to fully characterize. The discrimination between the two oxide phases of the composite cathode as well as between them and the pore phase has been achieved using epoxy impregnation. The active regions of composite cathodes were analyzed at various length scales using focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope (FIB/SEM) and transmission electron microscope techniques. Dual beam FIB/SEM three‐dimensional (3D) reconstructions provided information of various microstructural parameters. Over 5900 nodes were evaluated in these complex 3D networks. Topological connectivity of the composite LCM/ScSZ system was evaluated with the average connectivity ranging between 2.69 and 2.94 for the various phases. Topological length of the composite cathode network ranged between 1.5 and 2.7 μm, with average composite cathode particle sizes between 1 to 4 μm. Such connectivity quantification provides the opportunity for an advanced understanding of the transport processes in composite materials.