Performance and Stability of High Temperature Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOECs) for Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs), which are composed of Ni-yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) fuel electrode, YSZ electrolyte, gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) interdiffusion barrier layer, and (La0.8Sr0.2)(0.95)Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) air electrode, were fabricated and electrochemically tested. The performance of SOEC was dominated by the concentration polarization of the fuel electrode and activation polarization of the air electrode. The concentration polarization of the fuel electrode was reduced by optimization of the pore structure, and the eletrocatalytic activity of the air electrode was enhanced by infiltration of nanocatalysts into the porous electrodes. The cells showed excellent long-term stability up to 300 hour operation.