GOALI: Collaborative Research: An Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Microstructural and Electrochemical Stability of Solid Oxide Cells

非技术描述：固体氧化物电池是一种快速发展的技术，用于燃料到电力和电力到燃料的清洁高效转换。虽然大部分的发展是作为固定发电的固体氧化物燃料电池，但已经出现了重要的新应用，这些应用对减少温室气体排放至关重要，包括电力储存，可再生电力转化为燃料，以及电动汽车的燃料灵活增程器。固体氧化物电池更广泛应用的一个关键障碍是其有限的工作寿命-需要更多的研究来了解并最终减轻限制寿命的退化机制。该项目提供了对退化过程的基本了解，补充了更实际的研究，例如，长期燃料电池寿命测试，正在进行的工业。该项目通过开发和测试基于设备性能退化测量和设备损坏三维成像的理论模型来实现这一理解。该项目涉及工业合作伙伴日产公司，确保在应用相关条件下测试电池。这些结果与许多研究团体有关，从可以利用三维数据和模拟方法的建模人员到可以使用这些结果来帮助改进燃料电池的工业开发人员。研究生、本科生和高中生接受广泛的培训，这对他们未来的职业生涯很有价值-他们在能源相关行业、汽车制造商和许多其他行业找到工作。强调学生的多样性。通过两个论坛向公众传播挑战和结果：埃文斯顿的科学咖啡馆和安阿伯动手博物馆，后者吸引了来自周边弱势社区的年轻人（例如，Ypsilanti）和/或农村（大多数社区在沃什特诺及其周边县）。技术支持：该项目侧重于固体氧化物电池的性能和长期稳定性;这是目前相关的，因为新的应用涉及循环操作引入新的降解机制。燃料电池结构的三维成像是使用聚焦离子束扫描电子显微镜、原子探针断层扫描和透射X射线显微镜进行的，后者以直接观察由于电池操作而引起的结构和化学变化的方式进行。这些图像与基于相场建模的电极性能和结构演变的三维模拟相结合，这将利用高性能计算。这解决了一个关键的挑战-基于在短期加速测试中观察到的微观结构变化开发模拟模型，然后将其应用于准确预测长期（超过5年）性能变化。这种3D微结构、经验证的模拟工具和计算密集型数据分析的组合提供了一个广泛适用于电极材料设计和发现的框架。学生接受最先进的实验和理论研究方法的培训，并直接与工业和国家实验室研究人员互动，后者利用阿贡和布鲁克海文国家实验室强大的三维成像能力。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Solid oxide cells are a rapidly developing technology for clean efficient conversion of fuels-to-electricity and electricity-to-fuels. While much of the development has been as solid oxide fuel cells for stationary power generation, important new applications have emerged that are critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including electricity storage, conversion of renewable electricity to fuels, and fuel-flexible range extenders for electric vehicles. A key barrier to more widespread application of solid oxide cells is their limited operating lifetime - more research is needed to understand and ultimately mitigate degradation mechanisms that limit lifetime. This project provides a fundamental understanding of degradation processes that complements more practical studies, e.g., long-term fuel cell life tests, being carried out in industry. The project is achieving this understanding by developing and testing theoretical models based on measurements of device performance degradation and three-dimensional imaging of device damage. The project involves an industrial partner, Nissan, Inc., ensuring that cells are tested under application-relevant conditions. The results are relevant to many research communities, ranging from modelers who can utilize three-dimensional data and simulation methods, to industrial developers who can use the results to help improve their fuel cells. Graduate, undergraduate, and high-school students receive extensive training that will be valuable in their future careers - they find employment in energy-related industries, auto manufacturers, and many others. Student diversity is emphasized. Dissemination of the challenges and results with the public occur through two forums: Science Cafe in Evanston and the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, the latter attracts youngsters from surrounding communities that are disadvantaged (e.g., Ypsilanti) and/or rural (majority of communities in Washtenaw and its surrounding counties).TECHNICAL DETAILS: This project focuses on solid oxide cell performance and long-term stability; this is currently relevant because new applications involving cyclic operation introduce new degradation mechanisms. Three-dimensional imaging of fuel cell structure is carried out using focused ion beam - scanning electron microscopy, atom-probe tomography, and transmission X-ray microscopy, the latter done in a way that directly observes structural and chemical changes due to cell operation. These images are combined with three-dimensional simulations of electrode performance and structural evolution based on the phase field modeling, which will utilize high performance computing. This addresses a key challenge - to develop simulation models based on microstructural changes observed in short accelerated tests, and then apply them to accurately predict long-term (beyond 5 years) performance changes. This combination of 3D microstructures, validated simulation tools, and computationally intensive data analysis provides a framework that is broadly useful for design and discovery of electrode materials. Students receive training in state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical research methods, and directly interact with industrial and national laboratory researchers, the latter to utilize powerful three-dimensional imaging capabilities at Argonne and Brookhaven National Laboratories.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.