Publication date: 10th April 2024
High-temperature electrolysis is a compelling choice for efficient renewable energy storage, with electrochemical CO2 and H2O splitting serving as key reactions. Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOECs), known for their stability at elevated temperatures, stand out for such applications. Perovskite-type and fluorite-type oxides functioning as Mixed Ionic and Electronic Conductors (MIECs) prove to be well-suited materials for SOEC cathodes. Crucial properties for these materials include catalytic activity, electronic and ionic conductivity, redox-cycling stability, and resilience against graphitic carbon deposition during CO2 splitting. However, many available materials combine only some of these properties, or degrade in the course of operation.
In order to enhance the efficiency and stability of SOEC cathode materials, it is imperative to attain a fundamental understanding regarding the mechanisms of degradation processes and surface reactions. This objective can be achieved through the utilization of in-situ surface-sensitive measurements, such as in-situ X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) or in-situ Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). By combining these techniques with precisely crafted model electrodes, fabricated using Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) and magnetron sputtering, it becomes possible to correlate the surface reaction rate to surface compositions and morphologies.
Particularly intriguing materials for CO2 and H2O splitting are metal/metal-oxide composites. The interactions of the metal with both the supporting oxide and the gas phase significantly influences the surface activity of cathode materials in high-temperature electrolysis. Examples include B-site exsolved nanoparticles on perovskite-type oxides as well as the dewetting behavior of metallic nickel on Gd-doped Ceria (GDC). In both cases, differences in atmosphere, temperature and applied voltage lead to surface chemical and morphological changes, which furthermore influence the surface activity as well as the formation kinetics of undesired byproducts like graphitic carbon in the case of electrochemical CO2 splitting.
In conclusion, our study on metal-support interactions on SOEC cathode materials using in-situ surface-sensitive measurements provides valuable insights for enhancing the efficiency and stability of high-temperature electrolysis for renewable energy storage.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).
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