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In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy of Ionic Conductivity and Reaction Mechanisms in Ultrathin Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2014

Amir H. Tavabi ,
Shigeo Arai ,
Shunsuke Muto ,
Takayoshi Tanji  and
Rafal E. Dunin-Borkowski
Amir H. Tavabi*
Affiliation:
Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons and Peter Grünberg Institute, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
Shigeo Arai
Affiliation:
EcoTopia Science Institute, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
Shunsuke Muto
Affiliation:
EcoTopia Science Institute, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
Takayoshi Tanji
Affiliation:
EcoTopia Science Institute, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
Rafal E. Dunin-Borkowski
Affiliation:
Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons and Peter Grünberg Institute, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
*
*Corresponding author. a.tavabi@fz-juelich.de
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Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are promising candidates for use in alternative energy technologies. A full understanding of the reaction mechanisms in these dynamic material systems is required to optimize device performance and overcome present limitations. Here, we show that in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be used to study redox reactions and ionic conductivity in SOFCs in a gas environment at elevated temperature. We examine model ultrathin half and complete cells in two environmental TEMs using off-axis electron holography and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Our results from the model cells provide insight into the essential phenomena that are important for the operation of commercial devices. Changes in the activities of dopant cations in the solid electrolyte are detected during oxygen anion conduction, demonstrating the key role of dopants in electrolyte architecture in SOFCs.

Keywords

in situ TEMelectron holographyelectron energy-loss spectroscopysolid oxide fuel cellsgas–solid reactions
Type
Materials Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 20 , Issue 6 , December 2014 , pp. 1817 - 1825
Copyright
© Microscopy Society of America 2014 

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