Publication date: 10th April 2024
The growing scale of renewable electricity sources (i.e., solar/wind energies) underscores the necessity for electricity storage to balance grid supply/demand across various time scales, which is critically required for the widespread integration of renewables into our energy infrastructure. One of the promising next-generation energy devices, solid oxide cells (SOCs) have been highlighted as a means of storing excess electricity as chemical energy. SOCs offer several advantages, including:(1) High efficiency combined with utilizing waste heat sources (e.g., geothermal energy/nuclear energy), (2) Flexible operations in electrolysis/fuel cell modes, and (3) Selective chemical product generation (e.g., CO/NH3/C2H6). Despite ongoing efforts in the commercialization of SOC technology, it continues to face hindrances primarily associated with degradation-related issues.[1] Notably, the UK government has set an ambitious long-term stability goal of over 87,500 hours (equivalent to 10 years) for SOCs by 2050.[2] Therefore, the “long-term durability” of the SOCs under operating conditions will be crucial for achieving the ambitious goals set for SOC.
The primary objective of this research is to comprehend the intricate structure and chemistry of interfaces in SOCs by systematically characterising the evolution from the pristine state to the postmortem state of aged SOCs. The investigation has specifically focused on internal interfaces, such as grain boundaries, establishing connections between the findings and the microscopic outcomes of the interfaces. A range of advanced characterization tools, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), low energy ion scattering (LEIS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and atom probe tomography (APT), has been employed to establish correlations among interfacial changes. The investigation spans a range of length scales, from scrutinizing interactions at individual grain boundaries (APT) to assessing areas exceeding 400 mm² (SIMS). The advanced characterisation techniques play a critical role in better understanding the degradation mechanism of SOC and achieving in-depth knowledge, providing insight to overcome durability issues.
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