Porous Solid Oxide Composite With Hierarchical Pores for Rigid Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solid oxide fuel cells and electrolyzer cells face challenges in maintaining structural rigidity and effective electrical conduction while ensuring a high area three-phase interface for efficient gas supply and electrochemical reactions.
Innovation Solution
A porous solid oxide composite with a mesopore structure in an opal arrangement and connected by micropores, comprising electrode and solid oxide electrolyte materials, is developed to provide structural rigidity and efficient gas and electrical conduction paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the electrode layer has high porosity to enable smooth gas supply and high area three-phase interface, then gas supply efficiency is improved, but structural rigidity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a controlled porous structure with specific pore size distribution (mesopores of 0.3-20 μm and micropores of 0.03-2 μm) to optimize both gas supply and structural integrity. The porous configuration enables efficient gas diffusion pathways while the controlled pore dimensions maintain sufficient mechanical strength for practical application.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode layer is designed as a composite material system combining multiple functional components with complementary properties. This composite structure integrates materials that provide both the necessary porosity for gas transport and the structural rigidity required for mechanical stability, resolving the contradiction between permeability and strength.
2Productivity
If the electrode layer has high porosity to provide high area three-phase interface, then electrochemical reaction efficiency is improved, but electrical conduction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode layer exhibits spatially varying properties with different regions optimized for specific functions. Areas with higher porosity provide extensive three-phase interfaces for electrochemical reactions, while interconnected conductive pathways ensure adequate electrical conduction. This local differentiation of structure and composition resolves the contradiction between reaction efficiency and electrical conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controlled porous architecture with hierarchical pore structures (mesopores and micropores) creates extensive surface area for three-phase interfaces while maintaining interconnected pathways for electron transport. The pore configuration is designed to preserve electrical conduction routes alongside gas diffusion channels, enabling both high reaction efficiency and adequate electrical conductivity.
3Speed
If the pore size is increased to improve gas supply, then gas diffusion efficiency is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pore structure is segmented into hierarchical levels with mesopores (0.3-20 μm) for primary gas diffusion and micropores (0.03-2 μm) for secondary transport pathways. This segmentation creates a multi-scale network that maintains structural integrity at each level while enabling efficient gas diffusion through the hierarchical arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-scale pore structure to a hierarchical multi-scale pore system, adding a dimensional aspect to the pore architecture. This hierarchical arrangement in multiple size dimensions enables gas diffusion efficiency comparable to larger pores while the finer micropore network maintains structural stability and prevents collapse.
Data Source
AI summary
A porous solid oxide composite includes an electrode material and a solid oxide electrolyte material, and having mesopores arranged in an opal structure and micropores connecting the mesopores.