Distribution of Relaxation Time Analysis of the Initial Performance Degradation on Ni-YSZ Anode Support Cells

摘要

Lifetime is still one of the constraints of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) commercialization, which should be evaluated and predicted before market. During the initial period of two types of Ni-YSZ anode supported cells just after reduction, their voltage characteristic were found of nonlinear degradation. Experiment results showed that this stage almost terminated within 24 hours. Secondly, current density seemed to have little effect on the initial degradation, except for the open circuit condition, which saw lower degradation. Thirdly, one of the SOFCs' anode was infiltrated with gadolinium-doped ceria, and the initial degradation could be inhibited, which reduced cell's voltage loss from 60 mV to 20 mV. By comparing different SOFCs using distribution of relaxation time method, results showed that the initial nonlinear degradation of SOFCs was mainly caused by the increase of polarization impedance, and the prime cause was the increase of activation polarization in both anode and cathode.