Investigation of surface reactions on novel SOFC cathode materials by in-situ photoelectron spectroscopy

• Applicant: Dr. Christian Lenser
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: from 2014 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 256802336

In the search for clean and sustainable energy technologies, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are an attractive candidate for highly efficient fuel-to-energy converters. The high operation temperatures (500 - 1000°C) make SOFCs an ideal candidate for combined heat and power (CHP) systems, which is an attractive option for a decentralized energy network. The shift toward a local production of energy is associated with smaller transport losses and a greater flexibility. A key advantage of SOFC is the fuel flexibility, i.e. it is not limited to using hydrogen as the fuel, but can utilize hydrocarbons to generate electricity with much higher efficiency and reduced emissions compared to combustion. In addition, the direct conversion of fossil fuel into electrical power via a chemical reaction makes this technology attractive also from an environmental point of view, since it is associated with much less emission of green-house gases. The key to improving SOFC performance lies in understanding the atomistic processes that govern oxygen incorporation and transport in the cathode, which is often the limiting factor in state-of-the-art SOFCs. The proposed research project will therefore be centered on gaining a molecular level understanding of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on the surface of cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In addition to investigations of the rate-determining-step (rds), novel phenomena observed at the phase boundaries between dissimilar oxides will be explored in-situ via advanced synchrotron-based ambient pressure photoelectron spectroscopy (APPES). The proposed project is expected to contribute significantly to the understanding of why certain cathode hetero-interfaces are very highly reactive to ORR and the atomistic processes on the cathode surface during ORR, which is highly important for advancing the performance of SOFCs at intermediate temperatures with better economics and longer lifetime.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professorin Bilge Yildiz, Ph.D.