High Performance and Durability of Layered Perovskite Electrodes for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells

Abstract

In recently years, there has been an increased focus on the development of hydrogen technology as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels. Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) are one of the promising technology for the efficient production of H2 that can produce hydrogen at a fast chemical reaction rate with relatively low electrical energy because electrolysis at elevated temperatures is advantageous for both thermodynamic and kinetic reasons. Recent significant interest in steam electrolysis has been largely concerned with high electrolysis performance, enhanced durability and reduced degradation issues. In conventional SOECs used for steam electrolysis, the single cell consists of three parts: porous air side electrode, dense electrolyte and porous fuel side electrode. The Ni-Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) composite cermet is generally used as fuel side electrode. But, the Ni-YSZ cermet causes irreversible and critical degradation under high steam and low hydrogen partial pressures. In this work, to obtain high electrolysis performance and enhanced durability without degradation, we present the use of layered perovskite electrodes on both sides with dense La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3 (LSGM) electrolyte.