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Ion Beam Analysis of Components for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells


EMSL Project ID
19796

Abstract

The objective of the proposed research is to develop components for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) that will withstand the corrosive operating environment of the cell (800 oC, atmosphere of hydrogen, oxygen, and steam). Specifically, the research will guide the development of advanced coatings for the steel interconnect plates that will provide oxidation resistance and chemical stability, while serving as a diffusion barrier or capping layer to prevent the vaporization of Cr oxide-derived species that are known to poison SOFC operation. In collaboration with Arcomac Surface Engineering, Inc., Bozeman, MT, we will investigate the use of filtered arc deposition (FAD) technology to deposit the coatings. Ion beam analysis at EMSL will be used to quantify oxidation rates, elemental metal diffusion between substrate and coatings, oxygen transport and oxide growth at coating surfaces and coating-substrate interfaces, and the poisoning of the oxygen exchange process at the triple phase boundary (YSZ electrolyte, cathode, air) by Cr-derived species. Rutherford backscattering (RBS) and nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) in the ion beam laboratory at EMSL will provide the necessary probes to characterize structure and composition of the coatings as a function of time, temperature, and gas exposures. Results of the research will be disseminated in archival journals, and will benefit the mission of EMSL in the development of SOFCs for energy conversion.

Project Details

Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2006-10-01
End Date
2009-09-30
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Richard Smith
Institution
Montana State University

Team Members

Martin Finsterbusch
Institution
Montana State University

Chintalapalle Ramana
Institution
University of Texas at El Paso

Related Publications

Chen H, JA Lucas, WA Priyantha, M Kopczyk, RJ Smith, KR Lund, C Key, M Finsterbusch, PE Gannon, M Deibert, VI Gorokhovsky, V Shutthanandan, and P Nachimuthu. 2008. "Thermal stability and oxidation resistance of TiCrAlYO coatings on SS430 for solid oxide fuel cell interconnect applications." Surface & Coatings Technology 202(19):4820-4824. doi:10.1016/j.surfcoat.2008.04.059
?Effect of Cr2O3 on the 18O tracer incorporation in SOFC materials?, Martin Finsterbusch, Alexandre Lussier, Ezana Negusse, Zihua Zhu, Richard J. Smith, Juergen A. Schaefer, Yves U. Idzerda, Solid State Ionics 181 (2010) 640?645