TY - GEN
T1 - Finite element modeling of idealized infiltrated composite solid oxide fuel cell cathodes
AU - Nicholas, Jason D.
AU - Barnett, Scott A.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Using a two-dimensional finite element approach, the polarization resistance of idealized, branched, nano-particulate, composite cathodes was determined. Porous CGO, LSGM, or YSZ networks infiltrated with additional ionic conductor and subsequently infiltrated with LSCF or BSCF were modeled. For fixed mixed conductor particle size, dual nano-particle infiltrations (ionic + mixed conductor) resulted in an order of magnitude polarization resistance decrease, compared to single component mixed conductor infiltrations. For most SOFC relevant temperatures (500-900C), geometries, and material combinations, cathode performance was limited by the charge transfer reaction occurring at the mixed conductor interface and therefore scaled with the cathode surface area, as long as the cathode thickness was <∼10microns. For cathodes thicker than ∼10microns, losses within the ionic conducting network determined performance, resulting in a breakdown of the linear performance dependence on cathode surface area. The boundary between these regimes varied with ionic conducting cathode arm width, column width, and ionic conductivity.
AB - Using a two-dimensional finite element approach, the polarization resistance of idealized, branched, nano-particulate, composite cathodes was determined. Porous CGO, LSGM, or YSZ networks infiltrated with additional ionic conductor and subsequently infiltrated with LSCF or BSCF were modeled. For fixed mixed conductor particle size, dual nano-particle infiltrations (ionic + mixed conductor) resulted in an order of magnitude polarization resistance decrease, compared to single component mixed conductor infiltrations. For most SOFC relevant temperatures (500-900C), geometries, and material combinations, cathode performance was limited by the charge transfer reaction occurring at the mixed conductor interface and therefore scaled with the cathode surface area, as long as the cathode thickness was <∼10microns. For cathodes thicker than ∼10microns, losses within the ionic conducting network determined performance, resulting in a breakdown of the linear performance dependence on cathode surface area. The boundary between these regimes varied with ionic conducting cathode arm width, column width, and ionic conductivity.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70449840383&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=70449840383&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1149/1.3050407
DO - 10.1149/1.3050407
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:70449840383
SN - 9781615672851
T3 - ECS Transactions
SP - 361
EP - 377
BT - ECS Transactions - Ionic and Mixed Conducting Ceramics 6 - 213th ECS Meeting
PB - Electrochemical Society Inc.
T2 - Ionic and Mixed Conducting Ceramics 6 - 213th ECS Meeting
Y2 - 18 May 2008 through 23 May 2008
ER -