Effect of grain boundary diffusion on electrolyte stability in direct carbon fuel cells with antimony anodes. Issue 18 (15th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cao, Tianyu; Cheng, Yuan; Gorte, Raymond J.; Shi, Yixiang; Vohs, John M.; Cai, Ningsheng
• Is Part Of: Ceramics international. Volume 43:Issue 18(2017)
• Page Start: 16575
• Page End: 16579
• Publication Date: 2017-12-15
• Subjects: Antimony -- Liquid metal fuel cell -- Stability -- Grain boundary diffusion; Ceramics -- Periodicals; Céramique industrielle -- Périodiques; Ceramics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2017.09.045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-8842

Abstract

Abstract: Direct carbon fuel cells (DCFC) that employ solid oxide electrolytes and molten Sb anodes are promising for the efficient generation of electricity using a range of carbonaceous fuels. The present study examined the etching of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) electrolytes by Sb2 O3 produced during fuel-cell operation. Migration of Sb along grain boundaries and electrolyte corrosion were observed for both polycrystalline YSZ and GDC electrolytes; however, corrosion and electrolyte thinning were not observed for a single-crystal YSZ electrolyte, even after long-term operation. These results indicate that Sb migration along grain boundaries plays a significant role in electrolyte corrosion in DCFCs with molten Sb anodes. Several strategies for avoiding this problem are also discussed.