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，用于清洁高效地将燃料转化为电力和电力转化为燃料。虽然固体氧化物燃料电池的发展主要集中在固定式发电上，但对于减少温室气体排放至关重要的新应用已经出现，包括电力存储、可再生电力转换为燃料，以及电动汽车的燃料柔性增程器。固体氧化物电池广泛应用的一个关键障碍是其有限的使用寿命——需要更多的研究来了解并最终减轻限制寿命的降解机制。该项目提供了对降解过程的基本理解，补充了更多的实际研究，例如正在工业中进行的长期燃料电池寿命测试。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。该项目涉及一个工业合作伙伴，日产公司，确保电池在应用相关的条件下进行测试。这些结果与许多研究团体相关，从可以利用三维数据和模拟方法的建模者，到可以利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娜堡动手博物馆，后者吸引了来自周围弱势社区（例如，伊普斯兰蒂）和/或农村（华盛顿州及其周边县的大多数社区）的年轻人。技术细节：本项目重点关注固体氧化物电池的性能和长期稳定性；这是当前相关的，因为涉及循环操作的新应用引入了新的降解机制。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射线显微镜对燃料电池结构进行三维成像，透射x射线显微镜直接观察由于电池运行引起的结构和化学变化。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，将利用高性能计算。这解决了一个关键的挑战——开发基于在短期加速测试中观察到的微观结构变化的模拟模型，然后应用它们来准确预测长期（超过5年）的性能变化。这种3D微结构、经过验证的模拟工具和计算密集型数据分析的结合，为电极材料的设计和发现提供了一个广泛有用的框架。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。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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.