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Effects of Electrode Composition and Thickness on the Mechanical Performance of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

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  • Xiurong Fang

    (Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, No. 96, JinZhai Road, Hefei 230026, China)

  • Jiang Zhu

    (Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, No. 96, JinZhai Road, Hefei 230026, China)

  • Zijing Lin

    (Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, No. 96, JinZhai Road, Hefei 230026, China
    Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, No. 96, JinZhai Road, Hefei 230026, China
    CAS Key Laboratory of Strongly-Coupled Quantum Matter Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, No. 96, JinZhai Road, Hefei 230026, China)

Abstract

Mechanical damage is a major factor limiting the long-term stability of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Here, the mechanical stability of planar SOFCs consisting of Ni-YSZ anode/YSZ electrolyte/LSM-YSZ cathode (Ni=Nickel, YSZ=yttria-stabilized zirconia, LSM=lanthanum strontium manganite) is analyzed by a structural mechanics model with composition dependent mechanical properties. Influencing factors considered include: the Ni and LSM volume fractions, the thicknesses of anode, cathode and electrolyte layers, and the cell types of anode-, cathode-, and electrolyte-supported designs. It is found that (i) the anode failure probability increases with the Ni content. However, SOFCs remain mechanically safe if the Ni volume fraction is below 65%. (ii) An LSM volume fraction of over 40% is required to maintain the mechanical integrity of cathode. (iii) For an anode-supported cell with a 20 μm thick electrolyte, the anode thickness should be more than 0.5 mm to be mechanically stable. (iv) The anode-supported cell is found to be mechanically safer than that of the electrolyte-supported cell.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiurong Fang & Jiang Zhu & Zijing Lin, 2018. "Effects of Electrode Composition and Thickness on the Mechanical Performance of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:7:p:1735-:d:155775
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timurkutluk, Bora & Timurkutluk, Cigdem & Mat, Mahmut D. & Kaplan, Yuksel, 2016. "A review on cell/stack designs for high performance solid oxide fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 1101-1121.
    2. Khazaee, I. & Rava, A., 2017. "Numerical simulation of the performance of solid oxide fuel cell with different flow channel geometries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 235-244.
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    Cited by:

    1. Daifen Chen & Biao Hu & Kai Ding & Cheng Yan & Liu Lu, 2018. "The Geometry Effect of Cathode/Anode Areas Ratio on Electrochemical Performance of Button Fuel Cell Using Mixed Conducting Materials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Zheng Li & Guogang Yang & Qiuwan Shen & Shian Li & Hao Wang & Jiadong Liao & Ziheng Jiang & Guoling Zhang, 2022. "Transient Multi-Physics Modeling and Performance Degradation Evaluation of Direct Internal Reforming Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Focusing on Carbon Deposition Effect," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Tomasz A. Prokop & Grzegorz Brus & Shinji Kimijima & Janusz S. Szmyd, 2020. "Thin Solid Film Electrolyte and Its Impact on Electrode Polarization in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Studied by Three-Dimensional Microstructure-Scale Numerical Simulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Zheng, Hongxiang & Jiang, Wenchun & Luo, Yun & Song, Ming & Zhang, Xiucheng & Tu, Shan-Tung, 2025. "Coupled degradation mechanism of electrochemical and mechanical performance of solid oxide fuel cells under thermal cycling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 381(C).
    5. Siyu Lu & Man Zhang & Jie Wu & Wei Kong, 2022. "Performance Investigation on Mono-Block-Layer Build Type Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with a Vertical Rib Design," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-12, January.
    6. Zarabi Golkhatmi, Sanaz & Asghar, Muhammad Imran & Lund, Peter D., 2022. "A review on solid oxide fuel cell durability: Latest progress, mechanisms, and study tools," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    7. Jiangtao Feng & Jiaqi Geng & Hangyu She & Tao Zhang & Bo Chi & Jian Pu, 2022. "Thermal Stress Simulation and Structure Failure Analyses of Nitrogen–Oxygen Sensors under a Gradual Temperature Field," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-11, April.
    8. Jin, Xinfang & Ku, Anthony & Ohara, Brandon & Huang, Kevin & Singh, Surinder, 2021. "Performance analysis of a 550MWe solid oxide fuel cell and air turbine hybrid system powered by coal-derived syngas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    9. Guo, Meiting & Ru, Xiao & Yang, Lin & Ni, Meng & Lin, Zijing, 2022. "Effects of methane steam reforming on the mechanical stability of solid oxide fuel cell stack," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).

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