Study on the fracture behavior of the planar-type solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract In this work, the commercial SUS430 ferritic stainless steel was used as the current collector to study the fracture behaviors of the planar electrolyte-supported and anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells with the size of 10 cm × 10  cm during the thermal cycle process. The anode-supported cells (ASCs) were fabricated by tape-casting, spraying, screen-printing and co-sintering. The electrolyte-supported cells (ESCs) using fully-stabilized zirconia as material were prepared by tape-casting, multilayer lamination, screen-printing and co-sintering. The output power densities at 0.7 V (P0.7V) of the anode-supported and electrolyte-supported cells could reach 0.60 W cm−2 and 0.43 W cm−2 at 850 °C, respectively. During the thermal cycle testing, the ESC sample was cracked, while the ASC sample had no obvious changes. The thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of the different samples was studied, and the two cells were characterized by the XRD after the thermal cycle testing. In addition, the fracture behaviors of the two cells were discussed. The results indicated that the ASC sample had the good stability during the thermal cycle testing. The excellent anti-cracking performance of the ASC was attributable to two aspects. Firstly, the TEC of the anode support is more close to that of the SUS430 material; secondly, the phase transformation of zirconia from monoclinic phase to tetragonal phase induced by stress is favorable for contraction of the anode support layer during the cooling process.

[1]  Douglas G. Ivey,et al.  Electrochemical and microstructural characterization of the redox tolerance of solid oxide fuel cell anodes , 2005 .

[2]  S. Shy,et al.  Comparison of Electrochemical Impedance Measurements between Pressurized Anode-Supported and Electrolyte-Supported Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cells , 2015 .

[3]  Jong‐Won Lee,et al.  Design of a dual-layer ceramic interconnect based on perovskite oxides for segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells , 2015 .

[4]  Y. Matsuzaki,et al.  Current density dependence of changes in the microstructure of SOFC anodes during electrochemical oxidation , 2009 .

[5]  A. Mai,et al.  High temperature mechanical properties of zirconia tapes used for electrolyte supported solid oxide fuel cells , 2015 .

[6]  M. Inaba,et al.  Effects of mixed conduction on the open-circuit voltage of intermediate-temperature SOFCs based on Sm-doped ceria electrolytes , 2005 .

[7]  T. Tien,et al.  Phase stability and physical properties of cubic and tetragonal ZrO2 in the system ZrO2-Y2O3-Ta2O5 , 1991 .

[8]  Zhenwei Wang,et al.  Anode supported planar solid oxide fuel cells with the large size of 30 cm × 30 cm via tape-casting and co-sintering technique , 2016 .

[9]  A. Petric,et al.  Electrical Conductivity and Thermal Expansion of Spinels at Elevated Temperatures , 2007 .

[10]  G. Guan,et al.  Rapid degradation mechanism of Ni-CGO anode in low concentrations of H 2 at a high current density , 2011 .

[11]  M. Carlini,et al.  Composite Cu-LaFeO3 conversion coatings on a 18Cr ferritic stainless steel for IT-SOFC interconnects: An investigation on structure and formation mechanism , 2017 .

[12]  Jian Xin Wang,et al.  Effect of alumina on the properties of ceria and scandia co-doped zirconia for electrolyte-supported SOFC , 2013 .

[13]  Zhixiang Liu,et al.  Development of novel low-temperature SOFCs with co-ionic conducting SDC-carbonate composite electrolytes , 2007 .

[14]  Zhonghua Lu,et al.  Research on planar SOFC stack , 2002 .

[15]  J. Svensson,et al.  Co- and Ce/Co-coated ferritic stainless steel as interconnect material for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells , 2017 .

[16]  L. Jian,et al.  Investigation of MnCu0.5Co1.5O4 spinel coated SUS430 interconnect alloy for preventing chromium vaporization in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell , 2017 .

[17]  P. Sarkar,et al.  Porous electrolyte-supported tubular micro-SOFC design , 2011 .

[18]  Douglas G. Ivey,et al.  A review of recent progress in coatings, surface modifications and alloy developments for solid oxide fuel cell ferritic stainless steel interconnects , 2010 .

[19]  B. Chi,et al.  Performance degradation and analysis of 10-cell anode-supported SOFC stack with external manifold structure , 2017 .

[20]  J. Otomo,et al.  The high temperature proton conductor BaZr0.4Ce0.4In0.2O3−α , 2004 .

[21]  Daniel Favrat,et al.  Simulation of thermal stresses in anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell stacks. Part I: Probability of failure of the cells , 2009 .

[22]  Yu Wang,et al.  Effect of tube radius on creep for an anode supported tubular solid oxide fuel cell: Experimental and finite element simulation , 2017 .

[23]  S. Hyun,et al.  Effect of slurry-coated LaSrMnO3 on the electrical property of Fe–Cr alloy for metallic interconnect of SOFC , 2004 .

[24]  Sea-Fue Wang,et al.  Effects of cathode materials on the characteristics of electrolyte supported micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells , 2014 .

[25]  R. Steinberger‐Wilckens,et al.  Cu-Mn-Co oxides as protective materials in SOFC technology: The effect of chemical composition on mechanochemical synthesis, sintering behaviour, thermal expansion and electrical conductivity , 2017 .

[26]  Zhongning Shi,et al.  Evaluation of electroplated copper coating on ferritic stainless steel for solid oxide fuel cells interconnects , 2017 .

[27]  P. Hendriksen,et al.  Influence of porosity on mechanical properties of tetragonal stabilized zirconia , 2017 .

[28]  D. Clarke,et al.  Resistance to Low-Temperature Degradation of Equimolar YO1.5–TaO2.5 Stabilized Tetragonal ZrO2 Ceramics in Air , 2010 .

[29]  Z. Yang,et al.  (Mn,Co)3O4 spinel coatings on ferritic stainless steels for SOFC interconnect applications , 2007 .

[30]  Chunwen Sun,et al.  Cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells: a review , 2010 .

[31]  P. Hendriksen,et al.  Determination of the bonding strength in solid oxide fuel cells’ interfaces by Schwickerath crack initiation test , 2017 .

[32]  R. Mark Ormerod.  Solid oxide fuel cells , 2003 .

[33]  Tak-Hyoung Lim,et al.  Effect of nano-Al2O3 addition on mechanical durability of nickel-yttria stabilized zirconia anode support of solid oxide fuel cells , 2018 .

[34]  M. Salvo,et al.  Microstructural and electrical characterization of Mn-Co spinel protective coatings for solid oxide cell interconnects , 2017 .

[35]  R. Kee,et al.  Two-dimensional model of distributed charge transfer and internal reforming within unit cells of segmented-in-series solid-oxide fuel cells , 2011 .

[36]  K. S. Weil,et al.  Selection and Evaluation of Heat-Resistant Alloys for SOFC Interconnect Applications , 2003 .

[37]  Marco Sorrentino,et al.  A Review on solid oxide fuel cell models , 2011 .

[38]  Y. Matsuzaki,et al.  Development of segmented-in-series-type solid oxide fuel cells for residential applications , 2012 .

[39]  R. Basu,et al.  Synthesis and characterization of Ca doped LaMnO3 as potential anode material for solid oxide electrolysis cells , 2017 .

[40]  B. Steele,et al.  Materials for fuel-cell technologies , 2001, Nature.

[41]  N. Minh.  Ceramic Fuel Cells , 1993 .

[42]  P. Tiwari,et al.  Performance studies of electrolyte-supported solid oxide fuel cell with Ni–YSZ and Ni–TiO2–YSZ as anodes , 2014, Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry.

[43]  H. Tsubakino,et al.  Relationship between Transformation Temperature and Time-Temperature-Transformation Curves of Tetragonal-to-Monoclinic Martensitic Transformation in Zirconia-Yttria System , 2002 .

[44]  H. Frandsen,et al.  Residual stresses and strength of multilayer tape cast solid oxide fuel and electrolysis half-cells , 2015 .

[45]  Hee Chun Lim,et al.  Carbon deposition and cell performance of Ni-YSZ anode support SOFC with methane fuel , 2002 .

[46]  Jian Xin Wang,et al.  Electrolyte supported solid oxide fuel cells with the super large size and thin ytterbia stabilized zirconia substrate , 2015 .

[47]  Jian Li,et al.  Electrochemical performance and thermal cyclicability of industrial-sized anode supported planar solid oxide fuel cells , 2013 .

[48]  S. Barnett,et al.  Direct operation of solid oxide fuel cells with methane fuel , 2005 .

[49]  Gérard Delette,et al.  Impact of ‘redox’ cycles on performances of solid oxide fuel cells: Case of the electrolyte supported cells , 2010 .

[50]  Zongping Shao,et al.  Controlled deposition and utilization of carbon on Ni-YSZ anodes of SOFCs operating on dry methane , 2016 .

[51]  W. Guan,et al.  Effect of Contact Method between Interconnects and Electrodes on Area Specific Resistance in Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cells , 2013 .

[52]  L. Jian,et al.  Oxidation behavior of metallic interconnect in solid oxide fuel cell stack , 2017 .

[53]  Muhammad Shirjeel Khan,et al.  Nano-CeO2 and -LaCrO3 dispersed ferritic stainless steels as potential interconnect materials for solid oxide fuel cells , 2017 .

[54]  A. Irankhah,et al.  NiFe2O4 Spinel Protection Coating for High-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Interconnect Application , 2016, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance.

[55]  Yejian Xue,et al.  Effect of alumina on the curvature, Young's modulus, thermal expansion coefficient and residual stre , 2011 .

[56]  U. Stimming,et al.  Advances, aging mechanisms and lifetime in solid-oxide fuel cells , 2004 .

[57]  Zhe Zhao,et al.  Sealing performance and chemical compatibility of SrO–La2O3–Al2O3–SiO2 glasses with bare and coated ferritic alloy , 2016 .

[58]  Z. Yang,et al.  Evaluation of Ni-Cr-base alloys for SOFC interconnect applications , 2006 .

[59]  I. Chen,et al.  Cubic‐to‐Tetragonal (t') Transformation in Zirconia‐Containing Systems , 1992 .

[60]  Xiaobo Du,et al.  Effect of composite pore-former on the fabrication and performance of anode-supported membranes for SOFCs , 2008 .

[61]  Daniel Favrat,et al.  Simulation of thermal stresses in anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell stacks. Part II: Loss of gas-tightness, electrical contact and thermal buckling , 2009 .

[62]  J. Svensson,et al.  Long term study of Cr evaporation and high temperature corrosion behaviour of Co coated ferritic steel for solid oxide fuel cell interconnects , 2012 .

[63]  K. Friedrich,et al.  In Situ X‐Ray Diffraction and Stress Analysis of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells , 2013 .

[64]  Zhenwei Wang,et al.  Fabrication of porous anode-support for planar solid oxide fuel cell using fish oil as a pore former , 2016 .

[65]  L. Barelli,et al.  SOFC regulation at constant temperature: Experimental test and data regression study , 2016 .

[66]  W. Guan,et al.  Temperature Measurement and Distribution Inside Planar SOFC Stacks , 2012 .

[67]  Tao Chen,et al.  Evaluation of Ni80Cr20/(La0.75Sr0.25)0.95MnO3 dual layer coating on SUS 430 stainless steel used as metallic interconnect for solid oxide fuel cells , 2014 .

[68]  W. Wang,et al.  Electrochemical Performance of Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Stacks: From Repeat Unit to Module , 2014 .

[69]  Qing-chun Yu,et al.  Fabrication of Co3O4 and La0.6Sr0.4CoO3−δ–Ce0.8Gd0.2O2−δ dual layer coatings on SUS430 steel by in-situ phase formation for solid oxide fuel cell interconnects , 2015 .