1. Changes in properties of scandia-stabilised ceria-doped zirconia ceramics caused by silver migration in the electric field
- Author
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Michał Mosiałek, D. Wilgocka-Ślęzak, Antanas Feliksas Orliukas, Bartłomiej Lis, Tomas Šalkus, Robert P. Socha, M. Faryna, A. Kežionis, Jan Wyrwa, Małgorzata Dziubaniuk, Elżbieta Bielańska, Joanna Wojewoda-Budka, Barbara Bożek, Edvardas Kazakevičius, Radosław Lach, and Magdalena Dudek
- Subjects
Microscope ,Materials science ,Scanning electron microscope ,General Chemical Engineering ,Scandia-stabilised ceria-doped zirconia ,Low-energy electron microscopy ,Solid oxide fuel cell ,Broadband electrochemical impedance spectroscopy ,High-temperature scanning electron microscopy ,02 engineering and technology ,Electrolyte ,Sputter deposition ,Conductivity ,010402 general chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,01 natural sciences ,0104 chemical sciences ,law.invention ,Dielectric spectroscopy ,Chemical engineering ,law ,Electrochemistry ,Grain boundary ,Electron microscope ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
Silver is one of the most promising cathode materials for low temperature (300–500 °C) solid oxide fuel cells. The most important disadvantage of silver is its migration in the electric field. For better understanding of this phenomenon, an in situ observation of the migration mechanism was undertaken with the use of high-temperature microscopes. Scandia stabilised ceria doped zirconia CeScSZ electrolyte prepared from commercial powder was examined before and after silver migration experiments using scanning electron microscope. X-ray diffraction, broadband electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The silver electrodes for solid oxide fuel cells were prepared using magnetron sputtering. The described cells under polarisation were examined using a high-temperature low energy electron microscope. Reference cells and post-mortem cells were observed using a scanning electron microscope equipped with high temperature stage. Under polarisation, silver moved inside the electrolyte and along the surface towards the region between electrodes. The structures thus formed were similar to those previously described in the literature; however, direct observation of the deposit growth was unsuccessful. In situ scanning electron microscopy observations of the silver electrode at 650 °C revealed neither melting of the smallest silver particles nor movement of silver structures. Silver migration through the electrolyte caused a reduction in grain interior conductivity of the electrolyte, whereas its grain boundary conductivity remained unaffected.
- Published
- 2020