Steam Electrolysis vs. Co-Electrolysis: Mechanistic Studies of Long-Term Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells

Stephanie E. Wolf, Vaibhav Vibhu, Eric Tröster, Izaak C. Vinke, Rüdiger-A. Eichel and L. G. J. (Bert) de Haart
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Stephanie E. Wolf: Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
Vaibhav Vibhu: Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
Eric Tröster: Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
Izaak C. Vinke: Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
Rüdiger-A. Eichel: Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
L. G. J. (Bert) de Haart: Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: High-temperature electrolysis using solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) is an innovative technology to temporarily store unused electrical energy from renewable energy sources. However, they show continuous performance loss during long-term operation, which is the main issue preventing their widespread use. In this work, we have performed the long-term stability tests up to 1000 h under steam and co-electrolysis conditions using commercial NiO-YSZ/YSZ/GDC/LSC single cells in order to understand the degradation process. The electrolysis tests were carried out at different temperatures and fuel gas compositions. Intermittent AC- and DC- measurements were performed to characterize the single cells and to determine the responsible electrode processes for the degradation during long-term operation. An increased degradation rate is observed at 800 °C compared to 750 °C under steam electrolysis conditions. Moreover, a lower degradation rate is noticed under co-electrolysis operation in comparison to steam electrolysis operation. Finally, the post-test analyses using SEM-EDX and XRD were carried out in order to understand the degradation mechanism. The delamination of LSC is observed under steam electrolysis conditions at 800 °C, however, such delamination is not observed during co-electrolysis operation. In addition, Ni-depletion and agglomeration are observed on the fuel electrode side for all the cells.

Keywords: solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs); cell performance; degradation; post-test analyses (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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