Abstract
In this work, the structure and electrochemical properties of titanate ceramics with in situ Ni exsolution are investigated to identify the structure-performance relationship of the exsolved perovskite for use as electrode materials in solid oxide cells. The phase formation, redox behaviour and exsolution properties of the material have been studied. The characteristics of the individual electrochemical processes are identified and correlated with the Ni doping and microstructural evolution. The results indicate that the electrode activity is strongly dependent on the density and particle size of the in situ grown Ni nanoparticles. The interfacial ion transfer and charge transfer processes can be promoted by increasing the electrode surface area or improving the adhesion between the electrode and electrolyte, while the surface electrode processes including the dissociative adsorption are more dependent on the porosity and electrode/electrolyte interfacial region of the exsolved titanate electrode.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
S.C. Singhal, Advances in solid oxide fuel cell technology. Solid State Ionics 135(1-4), 305–313 (2000)
S.A. Barnett, L. Jiang, B.D. Madsen, Z. Zhan, Direct hydrocarbon solid oxide fuel cells. Chem. Rev. 104, 4845–4865 (2004)
N. Meng, M.K.H. Leung, D.Y.C. Leung, Technological development of hydrogen production by solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC). Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 33, 2337–2354 (2008)
Y. Zhang, X.C. Gao, J. Sunarso, B. Liu, W. Zhou, M. Ni, Z.P. Shao, Significantly improving the durability of Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells: A highly active CO2-resistant perovskite cathode. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 1(3), 1337–1343 (2018)
J. Kim, A. Jun, O. Gwon, S. Yoo, M. Liu, J. Shin, T.H. Lim, G. Kim, Hybrid-solid oxide electrolysis cell: A new strategy for efficient hydrogen production. Nano Energy 44, 121–126 (2018)
T. Masaru, L. Bo-Kuai, R. Shriram, Scalable nanostructured membranes for solid-oxide fuel cells. Nat. Nano. Technol. 6, 282–286 (2011)
K. Xie, Y. Zhang, G. Meng, J.T.S. Irvine, Direct synthesis of methane from CO2/H2O in an oxygen-ion conducting solid oxide electrolyser. Energy Environ. Sci. 4(6), 2218–2222 (2011)
J.T.S. Irvine, D. Neagu, M.C. Verbraeken, C. Chatzichristodoulou, C. Graves, M.B. Mogensen, Evolution of the electrochemical interface in high-temperature fuel cells and electrolysers. Nat. Energy 1(1), 15014 (2016)
Y. Li, W. Zhang, Y. Zheng, J. Chen, B. Yu, Y. Chen, M. Liu, Controlling cation segregation in perovskite-based electrodes for high electro-catalytic activity and durability. Chem. Soc. Rev. 46(20), 6345–6378 (2017)
Y. Zheng, J. Wang, B. Yu, W. Zhang, J. Chen, J. Qiao, J. Zhang, A review of high temperature co-electrolysis of H2O and CO2 to produce sustainable fuels using solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs): Advanced materials and technology. Chem. Soc. Rev. 46(5), 1427–1463 (2017)
B. Lei, B. Samir, T. Enrico, Steam electrolysis by solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) with proton-conducting oxides. Chem. Soc. Rev. 46, 8255–8270 (2015)
S. Hashimoto, F.W. Poulsen, M. Mogensen, Conductivity of SrTiO3 based oxides in the reducing atmosphere at high temperature. J. Alloys Compd. 439(1-2), 232–236 (2007)
O.A. Marina, N.L. Canfield, J.W. Stevenson, Thermal, electrical, and electrocatalytical properties of lanthanum-doped strontium titanate. Solid State Ionics 149(1-2), 21–28 (2002)
P. Blennow, K.K. Hansen, L.R. Wallenberg, M. Mongensen, Synthesis of Nb-doped SrTiO3 by a modified glycine-nitrate process. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 27(13-15), 3609–3612 (2007)
J. Maček, B. Novosel, M. Marinšek, Ni–YSZ SOFC anodes—Minimization of carbon deposition. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 27(2-3), 487–491 (2007)
J.C. Li, Y. Yu, M.Y. Yin, N. Zhou, Z.F. Ma, A novel high performance composite anode with in situ growth of Fe-Ni alloy nanoparticles for intermediate solid oxide fuel cells. Electrochim. Acta 235, 317–322 (2017)
J. Myung, D. Neagu, M. Tham, J.T. Irvine, In situ tailored nickel nano-catalyst layer for internal reforming hydrocarbon fueled SOFCs. ECS Trans. 68(1), 1121–1128 (2015)
F. Kosaka, N. Noda, T. Nakamura, J. Otomo, In situ formation of Ru nanoparticles on La1-xSr(x)TiO3-based mixed conducting electrodes and their application in electrochemical synthesis of ammonia using a proton-conducting solid electrolyte. J. Mater. Sci. 52(5), 2825–2835 (2017)
X. Zhou, N. Yan, K.T. Chuang, J. Luo, Progress in La-doped SrTiO3(LST)-based anode materials for solid oxide fuel cells. RSC Adv. 4(1), 118–131 (2014)
G. Xiao, S. Wang, Y. Lin, Y. Zhang, K. An, F. Chen, Releasing metal catalysts via phase transition: (NiO)0.05-(SrTi0.8Nb0.2O3)0.95 as a redox stable anode material for solid oxide fuel cells. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 6(22), 19990–19996 (2014)
M.C. Verbraeken, B.R. Sudireddy, V. Vasechko, M. Cassidy, T. Ramos, J. Malzbender, P. Holtappels, J.T.S. Irvine, Scaling up aqueous processing of A-site deficient strontium titanate for SOFC anode supports. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 38(4), 1663–1672 (2018)
D.P. Fagg, V.V. Kharton, A.V. Kovalevsky, A.P. Viskup, E.N. Naumovich, J.R. Frade, The stability and mixed conductivity in La and Fe doped SrTiO3 in the search for potential SOFC anode materials. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 21(10-11), 1831–1835 (2001)
K.Y. Lai, A. Manthiram, Self-regenerating co–Fe nanoparticles on perovskite oxides as a hydrocarbon fuel oxidation catalyst in solid oxide fuel cells. Chem. Mater. 30(8), 2515–2525 (2018)
Lu J, Zhu C, Pan C, Lin W, Lemmon JP, Chen F, Li C, Xie K (2018) Highly efficient electrochemical reforming of CH4/CO2 in a solid oxide Electrolyser. Sci Adv 4:eaar5100
K.Y. Lai, A. Manthiram, Evolution of Exsolved nanoparticles on a perovskite oxide surface during a redox process. Chem. Mater. 30(8), 2838–2847 (2018)
K. Hilpert, R.W. Steinbrech, F. Boroomand, E. Wessel, F. Meschke, A. Zuev, O. Teller, H. Nickel, L. Singheiser, Defect formation and mechanical stability of perovskites based on LaCrO3 for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 23(16), 3009–3020 (2003)
S. Sengodan, Y.W. Ju, O. Kwon, A. Jun, H.Y. Jeong, T. Ishihara, J. Shin, G. Kim, Self-decorated MnO nanoparticles on double perovskite solid oxide fuel cell anode by in situ exsolution. ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 5(10), 9207–9213 (2017)
Y.F. Sun, Y.Q. Zhang, J. Chen, J.H. Li, Y.T. Zhu, Y.M. Zeng, B.S. Amirkhiz, J. Li, B. Hua, J.L. Luo, New opportunity for in situ exsolution of metallic nanoparticles on perovskite parent. Nano Lett. 16(8), 5303–5309 (2016)
O. Kwon, S. Sengodan, K. Kim, G. Kim, H.Y. Jeong, J. Shin, Y.W. Ju, J.W. Han, G. Kim, Exsolution trends and co-segregation aspects of self-grown catalyst nanoparticles in perovskites. Nat. Commun. 8(1), 15967 (2017)
Y. Gao, Z.H. Lu, L.T. You, J. Wang, L. Xie, J.Q. He, F. Ciucci, Energetics of nanoparticle exsolution from perovskite oxides. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 9(13), 3772–3778 (2018)
Y. Gao, D.J. Chen, M. Saccoccio, Z.H. Lu, F. Ciucci, From material design to mechanism study: Nanoscale Ni exsolution on a highly active A-site deficient anode material for solid oxide fuel cells. Nano Energy 27, 499–508 (2016)
D. Neagu, G. Tsekouras, D.N. Miller, H. Ménard, J.T.S. Irvine, In situ growth of nanoparticles through control of non-stoichiometry. Nat. Chem. 5(11), 916–923 (2013)
D. Neagu, T.S. Oh, D.N. Miller, H. Menard, S.M. Bukhari, S.R. Gamble, R.J. Gorte, J.M. Vohs, J.T.S. Irvine, Nano-socketed Nickel particles with enhanced coking resistance grown in situ by redox exsolution. Nat. Commun. 6(1), 8120 (2015)
L. Yang, K. Xie, S. Xu, T. Wu, Q. Zhou, T. Xie, Y. Wu, Redox-reversible niobium-doped strontium Titanate decorated with in situ grown Nickel Nanocatalyst for high-temperature direct steam electrolysis. Dalton Trans. 43(37), 14147–14157 (2014)
F. Zhao, V. Virkar, Dependence of polarization in anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells on various cell parameters. J. Power Sources 141, 79–95 (2015)
S.D. Ebbesen, M. Mogensen, Electrolysis of carbon dioxide in solid oxide electrolysis cells. J. Power Sources 193(1), 349–358 (2009)
Y. Zhang, Z. Yu, Y. Tao, J. Lu, Y. Liu, J. Shao, Insight into the electrochemical processes of titanate electrode with in situ Ni exsolution for solid oxide cells. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2(6), 4033–4044 (2019)
T. Ramos, L.C. Bernuy, B.R. Sudireddy, J.J. Bentzen, W. Zhang, P.S. Jorgensen, L.T. Kuhn, Performance-microstructure relations in Ni/CGO infiltrated Nb-doped SrTiO3 SOFC anodes. ECS Trans. 45(1), 389–402 (2012)
J. Zhang, K. Xie, H. Wei, Q.Q. Qin, W.T. Qi, L.M. Yang, R. Cong, Y.C. Wu, In situ formation of oxygen vacancy in perovskite Sr0.95Ti0.8Nb0.1M0.1O3 (M = Mn, Cr) toward efficient carbon dioxide electrolysis. Sci. Report. 4, 7082 (2014)
P. Blennow, A. Hagen, K. Hansen, L. Wallenberg, M. Mogensen, Defect and electrical transport properties of Nb-doped SrTiO3. Solid State Ionics 179(35-36), 2047–2058 (2008)
D.A. Osinkin, B.L. Kuzin, Hydrogen oxidation kinetics at Ni-Zr0.9Sc0.1O1.95 anode: Influence of the difference of potential in the dense part of the double electric layer. Electrochim. Acta 282, 128–136 (2018)
A.M. Hussain, J.V.T. Høgh, W. Zhang, E. Stamte, K.T.S. Thyden, N. Bonanos, Improved ceramic anodes for SOFCs with modified electrode/electrolyte Interface. J. Power Sources 212, 247–253 (2012)
T. Ramos, S. Veltze, B.R. Sudireddy, P. Holtappels, Impedance and stability of M/CGO (M: Ni, Pd, Ru) Co-infiltrated Nb-doped SrTiO3 SOFC anodes. ECS Electrochem. Lett. 3(2), F5–F6 (2013)
T. Ramos, K. Thyden, M. Mogensen, Electrochemical characterisation of Ni/(Sc)YSZ electrodes. ECS Trans. 28, 123–139 (2010)
A.M. Hussain, J.V.T. Hogh, W. Zhang, P. Blennow, N. Bonanos, A. Boukamp, Effective improvement of Interface modified strontium Titanate based solid oxide fuel cell anodes by infiltration with Nano-sized palladium and gadolinium-doped cerium oxide. Electrochim. Acta 113, 635–643 (2013)
Z. Jiao, N. Takagi, N. Shikazono, N. Kasagi, Study on local morphological changes of nickel in solid oxide fuel cell anode using porous Ni pellet electrode. J. Power Sources 196(3), 1019–1029 (2011)
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the financial support by National Natural Science Foundation of China (51702221, 51702151, and 21850410453), Shenzhen Science Innovation Committee (JCYJ20170817110358231, JCYJ20190808111607078), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2018 M643193), and Research Foundation of SZU (827-000226). The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the Instrumental Analysis Center of Shenzhen University (Xili Campus).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, Y., Tao, Y., Yu, Z. et al. Structure and electrochemical properties of titanate perovskite with in situ exsolution as a ceramic electrode material. J Electroceram 45, 29–38 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10832-020-00222-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10832-020-00222-7