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High Temperature Electrolysis

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "D1: Advanced Energy Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 7836

Special Issue Editor

Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK), 52425 Jülich, Germany
Interests: solid oxide fuel cells/electrolyzers; MIEC oxide materials; oxygen reduction/evolution reaction; catalysis, high temperature electrochemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Renewable energy and clean energy sources are growing progressively. However, because of their intermittent nature and location constraints, large-scale electricity storage is needed to secure a continuous energy supply. The renewable electricity can be used to convert H2O and CO2 into various chemicals using high temperature solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). More precisely, using SOEC hydrogen can be produced by steam electrolysis, carbon monoxide by CO2 electrolysis, and syngas (H2 + CO) by co-electrolysis. It is likely that high temperature electrolysis consumes less electrical energy compared with low temperature electrolysis, mainly because of the more favourable thermodynamic and electrochemical kinetic conditions for the reaction.

Recently, proton conducting SOECs have also shown promising results. Steam electrolysis using H+-SOEC can produce dry hydrogen and avoid further steps needed for gas separation/purification. Furthermore, it can be used to synthesise chemicals like ammonia and methanol in one single step.  

This Special Issue seeks to gather new outcomes associated with high temperature electrolyzers (mainly steam electrolysis, CO2 electrolysis, or co-electrolysis). Therefore, we invite research articles, reviews, case studies, and papers from other disciplines relevant to high temperature electrolyzers. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: performance, oxygen electrodes, fuel electrodes, electrolytes, durability, degradation mechanism, high temperature electrochemistry, and modelling.

Dr. Vaibhav Vibhu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Solid oxide electrolysis cells
  • Steam, CO2, and co-electrolysis
  • Electrodes performance
  • Electrolytes (proton/oxide ion conductor)
  • High temperature electrochemistry
  • Durability
  • Degradation

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3263 KiB  
Article
Steam Electrolysis vs. Co-Electrolysis: Mechanistic Studies of Long-Term Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells
by Stephanie E. Wolf, Vaibhav Vibhu, Eric Tröster, Izaak C. Vinke, Rüdiger-A. Eichel and L. G. J. (Bert) de Haart
Energies 2022, 15(15), 5449; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15155449 - 27 Jul 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2513
Abstract
High-temperature electrolysis using solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) is an innovative technology to temporarily store unused electrical energy from renewable energy sources. However, they show continuous performance loss during long-term operation, which is the main issue preventing their widespread use. In this work, [...] Read more.
High-temperature electrolysis using solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) is an innovative technology to temporarily store unused electrical energy from renewable energy sources. However, they show continuous performance loss during long-term operation, which is the main issue preventing their widespread use. In this work, we have performed the long-term stability tests up to 1000 h under steam and co-electrolysis conditions using commercial NiO-YSZ/YSZ/GDC/LSC single cells in order to understand the degradation process. The electrolysis tests were carried out at different temperatures and fuel gas compositions. Intermittent AC- and DC- measurements were performed to characterize the single cells and to determine the responsible electrode processes for the degradation during long-term operation. An increased degradation rate is observed at 800 °C compared to 750 °C under steam electrolysis conditions. Moreover, a lower degradation rate is noticed under co-electrolysis operation in comparison to steam electrolysis operation. Finally, the post-test analyses using SEM-EDX and XRD were carried out in order to understand the degradation mechanism. The delamination of LSC is observed under steam electrolysis conditions at 800 °C, however, such delamination is not observed during co-electrolysis operation. In addition, Ni-depletion and agglomeration are observed on the fuel electrode side for all the cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Temperature Electrolysis)
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11 pages, 2820 KiB  
Article
Performance and Degradation of Electrolyte-Supported Single Cell Composed of Mo-Au-Ni/GDC Fuel Electrode and LSCF Oxygen Electrode during High Temperature Steam Electrolysis
by Vaibhav Vibhu, Izaak C. Vinke, Fotios Zaravelis, Stylianos G. Neophytides, Dimitrios K. Niakolas, Rüdiger-A. Eichel and L. G. J. (Bert) de Haart
Energies 2022, 15(8), 2726; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15082726 - 08 Apr 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2463
Abstract
Ni-gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) based electrode materials have drawn significant attention as an alternative fuel electrode for solid oxide cells (SOCs) owing to mixed ionic conductivity of GDC and high electronic and catalytic activity of Ni. Moreover, the catalytic activity and electrochemical performance of [...] Read more.
Ni-gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) based electrode materials have drawn significant attention as an alternative fuel electrode for solid oxide cells (SOCs) owing to mixed ionic conductivity of GDC and high electronic and catalytic activity of Ni. Moreover, the catalytic activity and electrochemical performance of the Ni-GDC electrode can be further improved by dispersing small quantities of other metal additives, such as gold or molybdenum. Therefore, herein, we considered gold and molybdenum modified Ni-GDC electrodes and focused on the upscaling; hence, we prepared 5 × 5 cm2 electrolyte-supported single cells. Their electrochemical performance was investigated at different temperatures and fuel gas compositions. The long-term steam electrolysis test, up to 1700 h, was performed at 900 °C with −0.3 A·cm−2 current load. Lastly, post-test analyses of measured cells were carried out to investigate their degradation mechanisms. Sr-segregation and cobalt oxide formation towards the oxygen electrode side, and Ni-particle coarsening and depletion away from the electrolyte towards the fuel electrode side, were observed, and can be considered as a main reason for the degradation. Thus, modification of Ni/GDC with Au and Mo seems to significantly improve the electro-catalytic activity of the electrode; however, it does not significantly mitigate the Ni-migration phenomenon after prolonged operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Temperature Electrolysis)
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18 pages, 4091 KiB  
Article
Sr Substituted La2−xSrxNi0.8Co0.2O4+δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8): Impact on Oxygen Stoichiometry and Electrochemical Properties
by Ifeanyichukwu D. Unachukwu, Vaibhav Vibhu, Izaak C. Vinke, Rüdiger-A. Eichel and L. G. J. (Bert) de Haart
Energies 2022, 15(6), 2136; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15062136 - 15 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1685
Abstract
Lanthanide nickelate Ln2NiO4+δ (Ln = La, Pr, or Nd) based mixed ionic and electronic conducting (MIEC) materials have drawn significant attention as an alternative oxygen electrode for solid oxide cells (SOCs). These nickelates show very high oxygen diffusion coefficient ( [...] Read more.
Lanthanide nickelate Ln2NiO4+δ (Ln = La, Pr, or Nd) based mixed ionic and electronic conducting (MIEC) materials have drawn significant attention as an alternative oxygen electrode for solid oxide cells (SOCs). These nickelates show very high oxygen diffusion coefficient (D*) and surface exchange coefficient (k*) values and hence exhibit good electrocatalytic activity. Earlier reported results show that the partial substitution of Co2+ at B-site in La2Ni1−xCoxO4+δ (LNCO) leads to an enhancement in the transport and electrochemical properties of the material. Herein, we perform the substitution at A-site with Sr, i.e., La2−xSrxNi0.8Co0.2O4+δ, in order to further investigate the structural, physicochemical, and electrochemical properties. The structural characterization of the synthesized powders reveals a decrease in the lattice parameters as well as lattice volume with increasing Sr content. Furthermore, a decrease in the oxygen over stoichiometry is also observed with Sr substitution. The electrochemical measurements are performed with the symmetrical half-cells using impedance spectroscopy in the 700–900 °C temperature range. The total polarization resistance of the cell is increased with Sr substitution. The electrode reaction mechanism is also studied by recording the impedance spectra under different oxygen partial pressures. Finally, the kinetic parameters are investigated by analyzing the impedance spectra under polarization. A decrease in exchange current density (i0) is observed with increasing Sr content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Temperature Electrolysis)
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