The properties of the fuel electrode of solid oxide cells under simulated seawater electrolysis

摘要

In this study, electrolysis of seawater in flat-tube nickel-yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ) electrode-supported solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) were modeled and the effects of variations in electrical conductivity and microstructure of Ni-YSZ electrode support were investigated. When the current density was greater than 700 mA·cm~(-2), the conductivity of the electrode support decreased slightly with an increase in current density at 800 ℃ in hydrogen reduction environment; the conductivity of the electrode support decreased with an increase in the current density when the current density was greater than 400 mA·cm~(-2) at 800 ℃ in the seawater electrolysis environment. During long-term durability experiment of seawater electrolysis, the degradation rates in area specific resistance (ASR) were 0.096 mΩ·cm~2/100 h and 0.207 mΩ·cm~2/100 h with a current density of 300 mA·cm~(-2) (i.e., ≤400 mA·cm~(-2)) and 1000 mA·cm~(-2) (i.e.,≥400 mA·cm~(-2)), respectively. Besides, the various ions commonly present in seawater did not contaminate the Ni-YSZ support during the long-term durability test. The degradation mechanism of seawater electrolysis in flat-tube SOECs is discussed and clarified.