Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrolyte Ni Diffusion Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lanthanum-gallate-based electrolytes in solid oxide fuel cells exhibit high reactivity with Ni components, leading to diffusion and a decrease in ion transport number, causing electrical internal short circuits and reduced output performance, which current solutions like cerium-containing oxide layers cannot fully prevent.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating MgO particles at the grain boundary of perovskite-type composite oxide in the solid electrolyte layer to trap Ni components, preventing their diffusion and minimizing ion conductivity loss, with optimal volume ratios and particle diameters for effective suppression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If lanthanum-gallate-based electrolyte is used to achieve high oxygen ion conductivity at low temperature, then power generation performance is improved, but Ni components diffuse into the electrolyte causing electrical internal short circuit
Solution Approach 1:
A reaction preventing layer comprising cerium-containing oxide is introduced as an intermediary between the lanthanum-gallate-based electrolyte and the fuel electrode. This intermediate layer acts as a barrier that suppresses the diffusion of Ni components from the fuel electrode into the electrolyte, preventing electrical internal short circuits while allowing the electrolyte to maintain its high oxygen ion conductivity for improved power generation performance
2Reliability
If reaction preventing layer comprising cerium-containing oxide is added to suppress Ni diffusion, then diffusion is partially prevented, but Ni component diffusion cannot be completely prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The reaction preventing layer is constructed as a composite material combining cerium-containing oxide with perovskite-type composite oxide particles. This composite structure enhances the diffusion barrier properties compared to pure cerium-containing oxide, achieving more complete suppression of Ni component diffusion. The perovskite-type oxide component provides additional resistance to Ni diffusion while maintaining compatibility with the lanthanum-gallate-based electrolyte
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of MgO particles effectively suppresses Ni component diffusion, preventing electrical short circuits and maintaining high ion conductivity, thereby enhancing the power generation performance of solid oxide fuel cells.
Implementation Method 1
MgO as a particulate MgO particle is spotted at a grain boundary of particles made of the perovskite-type composite oxide as a main component
Implementation Method 2
the Ni components easily diffuse into the lanthanum-gallate-based electrolytes during cell production or operation... MgO particles... suppresses the Ni components included in the fuel electrode from diffusing into the lanthanum-gallate-based electrolytes
Data Source
AI summary
A solid oxide fuel cell scatters MgO over a grain boundary of an LSGM which is a solid electrolyte layer. Ni components that diffuse from a fuel electrode formed on the other side of an LDC from the LSGM are trapped by the scattered MgO particles and are suppressed from diffusing towards an air electrode in the electrolyte layer.