Incorporation of a Pd catalyst at the fuel electrode of a thin-film-based solid oxide cell by multi-layer deposition and its impact on low-temperature co-electrolysis. Issue 16 (4th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thieu, Cam-Anh; Hong, Jongsup; Kim, Hyoungchul; Yoon, Kyung Joong; Lee, Jong-Ho; Kim, Byung-Kook; Son, Ji-Won
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 5:Issue 16(2017)
• Page Start: 7433
• Page End: 7444
• Publication Date: 2017-04-04
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c7ta00499k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : To reveal the reaction mechanism of low-temperature co-electrolysis (LT-Co-EC), insertion of Pd into the Ni–YSZ fuel electrode functional layer by multi-layer thin film deposition was studied. Abstract : To enhance the electrochemical performance and syngas production in low-temperature co-electrolysis (LT-Co-EC), incorporation of Pd into the nickel–yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni–YSZ) fuel electrode functional layer (FEFL) of a thin film-based solid oxide cell (TF-SOC) by multi-layer thin film deposition was investigated. The optimal configuration to insert a Pd layer without disturbing the surface and cross-sectional microstructure of the FEFL was fabricated by alternating multi-layer deposition of Pd by sputtering and nickel oxide–yttria-stabilized zirconia (NiO–YSZ) by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). TF-SOCs with Pd (Pd-cell) and without Pd (Ref-cell) were fabricated and compared based on the electrochemical reaction and syngas production in LT-Co-EC. The results showed that the catalytic activity by forming the Pd–Ni alloy on the electrochemical performance and thermochemical reaction are improved by Pd incorporation at low temperatures (≤600 °C). Detailed microstructural analyses showed that Pd distributes from the electrode/electrolyte interface to a depth of several tens of microns in the anode support and forms a nano-structured Ni–Pd alloy, which contributes to improving the electrochemical reaction and thermochemical reactions such as water–gas-shift (WGS). It was also found that the performance stability was superior in the Pd-cell because pore array generation at the electrolyte/electrode interface was significantly suppressed in comparison with that of the Ref-cell.