This study is aimed at improving the electrochemical performance of electrode-supported solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) by optimizing the pore structure of the supports. Two planar NiO–8 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia supports are prepared, one by the phase-inversion tape casting, and the other by conventional tape casting method using graphite as the pore former. The former contains finger-like straight open large pores, while the latter contains randomly distributed and tortuous pores. The steam electrolysis of the cells with different microstructure cathode supports is measured. The cell supported on the cathode with straight pores shows a high current density of 1.42 A cm⁻² and a H₂ production rate of 9.89 mL (STP) cm⁻² min⁻¹ at 1.3 V and 50 vol % humidity and 750 °C, while the cell supported on the cathode with tortuous pores shows a current density of only 0.91 A cm⁻² and a H₂ production rate of 6.34 mL cm⁻²min⁻¹. It is concluded that the introduction of large straight open pores into the cathode support allows fast gas phase transport and thus minimizes the concentration polarization. Furthermore, the straight pores could provide better access to the reaction site (the electrode functional layer), thereby reducing the activation polarization as well.

这项研究旨在通过优化载体的孔结构来改善电极支撑的固体氧化物电解槽（SOEC）的电化学性能。制备了两个平面NiO–8 mol％的氧化钇稳定的氧化锆载体，一个通过相转流延铸造，另一个通过常规的流延铸造方法使用石墨作为成孔剂。前者包含手指状的直开大毛孔，而后者则包含随机分布且曲折的毛孔。测量具有不同微结构阴极载体的电池的蒸汽电解。支撑在具有直孔的阴极上的电池显示出1.42 A cm ^-2的高电流密度和9.89 mL（STP）cm ^-2  min ^-1的H ₂产生速率 在1.3 V和50 vol％的湿度以及750°C的条件下，负载在具有曲折孔的阴极上的电池的电流密度仅为0.91 A cm ^-2，而H _2的生产速率为6.34 mL cm ^-2 min ^-1。结论是，将大的直通孔引入阴极载体可实现快速的气相传输，从而最大程度地减小了浓差极化。此外，直孔可以提供更好的进入反应部位（电极功能层）的通道，从而也减少了活化极化。