Simulation and Prediction of 3-D Microstructural Evolution and Long Term Performance of Ni-YSZ Anode. (2nd June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Xin; Atkinson, Alan
• Is Part Of: ECS transactions. Volume 68:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 2867
• Page End: 2873
• Publication Date: 2015-06-02
• Subjects: Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journal; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1149/06801.2867ecst
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1938-5862

Abstract

Abstract : The electrochemical performance of SOFCs degrades over the operation time and a major contributor is microstructure coarsening in the anode. To enable long term durability prediction and improve the anode performance, it is necessary to understand its microstructural evolution under different operation conditions. In this contribution, we demonstrate that the 3D real microstructure evolution of a Ni-YSZ anode can be simulated and predicted using a cellular automaton approach. The same modelling approach is also used to determine the wettability of Ni on YSZ in the real anode. The 3D microstructures of as-reduced and aged anodes were reconstructed experimentally using the focused ion beam (FIB) slice and view method and it is shown that the simulation agrees well with the experimental results. Using these short time experimental observations as a calibration of the model, the long term microstructure evolution of the Ni-YSZ anode and its long term performance and lifetime are predicted.