Issue 15, 2013

Combined theoretical and experimental analysis of processes determining cathode performance in solid oxidefuel cells

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are under intensive investigation since the 1980's as these devices open the way for ecologically clean direct conversion of the chemical energy into electricity, avoiding the efficiency limitation by Carnot's cycle for thermochemical conversion. However, the practical development of SOFC faces a number of unresolved fundamental problems, in particular concerning the kinetics of the electrode reactions, especially oxygen reduction reaction. We review recent experimental and theoretical achievements in the current understanding of the cathode performance by exploring and comparing mostly three materials: (La,Sr)MnO3 (LSM), (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3 (LSCF) and (Ba,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3 (BSCF). Special attention is paid to a critical evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of BSCF, which shows the best cathode kinetics known so far for oxides. We demonstrate that it is the combined experimental and theoretical analysis of all major elementary steps of the oxygen reduction reaction which allows us to predict the rate determining steps for a given material under specific operational conditions and thus control and improve SOFC performance.

Graphical abstract: Combined theoretical and experimental analysis of processes determining cathode performance in solid oxide fuel cells

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
04 Dec 2012
Accepted
08 Feb 2013
First published
11 Feb 2013

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 5443-5471

Combined theoretical and experimental analysis of processes determining cathode performance in solid oxide fuel cells

M. M. Kuklja, E. A. Kotomin, R. Merkle, Yu. A. Mastrikov and J. Maier, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013, 15, 5443 DOI: 10.1039/C3CP44363A

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