CAREER: Unraveling Oxygen Electrode Delamination Mechanisms in Reversible Solid Oxide Cells for Robust Hydrogen Production

可逆固体氧化物电池是一种可以在制氢和发电两种相反的工作模式之间切换的设备。这些设备可能会彻底改变氢的制造方式。尽管前景看好，但由于电池在长时间运行下会快速降解，这些设备的使用面临着重大挑战。该学院早期职业发展（Career）奖支持旨在了解可逆固体氧化物电池内复杂降解机制的研究。通过克服这些挑战，该技术可以使氢作为一种清洁燃料在工业和重型运输部门具有成本效益。利用氢作为长期储能解决方案，它还促进了可再生能源与电网的整合。这项研究跨越多个学科，如固体力学、电化学和高级成像。为了与马萨诸塞大学洛厄尔分校作为少数民族服务机构的使命保持一致，该项目旨在通过让代表性不足的群体参与能源工程研究和教育，鼓励包容性，培养该领域更加多元化和包容性的劳动力。在电解模式下，可逆固体氧化物电池的快速降解是由氧电极/电解质界面的分层失效引起的，通常与氧分压的积累有关。在可逆模式下，特别是在双层氧电极结构下，对降解减少的机制的充分理解仍然存在重大的科学挑战。本研究旨在利用综合的机械-电化学方法，通过研究动态操作条件下氧电极-电解质界面上机械和化学应力之间复杂的相互作用，弥合现有的知识差距。该研究将尝试利用先进的全场x射线成像技术揭示氧电极三维非均质微结构中裂纹萌生和扩展的复杂动力学。通过模型和实验方法的严格耦合，将描述材料变化和结构几何修改对性能改进的贡献。这些发现将对新氧电极的设计和可逆固体氧化物电池安全操作方案的发展产生显著影响。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。

Reversible solid oxide cells are devices that can switch between two opposite operating modes for hydrogen production and power generation. These devices can potentially revolutionize the way hydrogen is made. Despite the promise, though, use of these devices faces significant challenges due to fast degradation of the cell under prolonged operation. This Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award supports research aiming to understand the complex degradation mechanisms within reversible solid oxide cells. By overcoming these challenges, the technology can enable cost-effective use of hydrogen as a clean fuel in industries and the heavy-duty transportation sector. Utilizing hydrogen as a long-term energy storage solution, it also promotes the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid. This research spans multiple disciplines such as solid mechanics, electrochemistry, and advanced imaging. In alignment with UMass Lowell's mission as a Minority Serving Institution, the project seeks to encourage inclusivity by engaging underrepresented groups in energy engineering research and education, fostering a more diverse and inclusive workforce in the field.The rapid degradation in reversible solid oxide cells during electrolysis mode, caused by delamination failure at the oxygen electrode/electrolyte interface, is commonly associated with the buildup of oxygen partial pressure. Significant scientific challenges persist in fully comprehending the mechanisms responsible for the reduced degradation observed under reversible modes, especially with a bilayer oxygen electrode configuration. This research aims to bridge the existing knowledge gap by investigating the intricate interactions between mechanical and chemical stresses at the oxygen electrode-electrolyte interface under dynamic operating conditions, utilizing integrated mechano-electro-chemical approaches. The research will attempt to unravel the complex dynamics of crack initiation and propagation within 3D heterogeneous microstructures of oxygen electrodes from advanced full-field X-ray imaging technique. Through rigorous coupling of model and experiment approaches, the contributions of material variations and structural geometry modifications to performance improvements will be delineated. These findings will make a marked impact on the design of new oxygen electrodes and development of protocols for safe operation of reversible solid oxide cells.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.