Sr 2-x VMoO 6-Y double perovskites : a new generation of solid oxide fuel cell anodes
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Date
2013
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Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science
Abstract
Fuel cells are an attractive power source due to their ability to efficiently convert chemical energy stored in fuel directly into electricity. The ability of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) to reform hydrocarbons at the anode provides for fuel flexibility, an advantage over other types of fuel cell technologies. The primary goals of this dissertation were to investigate the limitations of the currently used anode cermet material, synthesize a double perovskite material (Sr ₂₋xVMoO ₆₋y) without these limitations and investigate the electrical conduction properties of this mixed ionic and electronic conductor (MEIC) in a SOFC anode environment. The electronic current density limitation of a Ni-YSZ anode was determined through the development of a computer simulation and use of experimental data. The electronic current density distribution for nickel particles in a Ni-YSZ anode was calculated via a Monte-Carlo percolation model. Experiments were performed to determine the failure current densities of thin nickel wires in a SOFC anode environment. The results show a current density limitation of Ni-YSZ anodes that is not expected with MEIC anodes. A MEIC anode material, Sr ₂₋xVMoO ₆₋y, was synthesized and characterized using a variety of techniques. The expected MEIC nature of this perovskite material eliminates a potential anode limitation, while adding other benefits over Ni-YSZ. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to verify crystal structure. In contrast to the trace amounts of secondary insulating phases found through XRD, XPS shows a high percentage (85-90%) of these secondary phases at the surface. The electrical conductivity of Sr ₂₋xVMoO ₆₋y was found to exceed that reported for Ni-YSZ anodes in a typical SOFC anode environment. Polycrystalline Sr 1.9VMoO ₆₋y'' samples exhibited higher electrical conductivity than that reported for SrMoO ₃ polycrystalline samples, making it a candidate for being the highest electrical conducting oxide known. These conduction values were only measured after specific thermal treatments in a reducing atmosphere. These treatments reduced secondary surface phases, Sr ₃V ₂O ₈ and SrMoO ₄, into their more conducting counterparts, SrVO ₃ and SrMoO ₃. Vanadium and molybdenum valence state XPS fitting parameters for primary and secondary phases are reported.