Sains Malaysiana 49(12)(2020): 3155-3167

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4912-27

 

Effects of Binary (Lithium/Natrium)2 Carbonates on the Phase and Microstructural Stability of Lscf-Sdc for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

(Kesan Karbonat (Litium/Natrium)2 Bineri pada Fasa dan Kestabilan Mikrostruktur Lscf-Sdc untukBahan Api Sel Oksida Pepejal Bersuhu Rendah)

 

HAMIMAH ABD. RAHMAN1*, LINDA AGUN2, NG KEI HOA1, SUFIZAR AHMAD1 & NUR AZMAH NORDIN3

 

1Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia

 

2School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia

 

3Engineering Materials and Structures (eMast) iKohza, Malaysia-Japan International, Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

Received: 5 August 2020/Accepted: 11 September 2020

 

ABSTRACT

Most studies focus on introducing of doped ceria carbonate into cathode materials to enhance the cathode ionic conductivity for low temperature solid oxide fuel cell. In this work, we aim to identify the influence of Lithium/Natrium binaries (Li/Na)2 carbonates addition on Lanthanum Strontium Carbonate Ferrite-Samarium-Doped Ceria (LSCF-SDC) composite cathode on the phase and microstructural stability under long-term durability of 1000 h. Three different binaries (Li/Na)2 carbonate of 67:33, 62:38, and 53:47 mol.% were incorporated into LSCF-SDC via high energy ball milling method. The phase and microstructural stability as a function of operating temperature (400 and 600 °C) were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Archimedes principle was applied to evaluate the porosity of the cathode pellets. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were performed by using impedance setup at 600 °C under open-circuit condition. The XRD findings demonstrated that cathodes able to retain their chemical phases after stability test. Qualitative results show that the cathode morphology exhibits a slight increment on the particle size after the ageing process at 1000 h. All cathodes prepared at various binary carbonate ratio still maintain their porosity values between 26 and 32% after long-term stability test. This finding has yielded a smaller area specific resistance of 0.66 Ω.cm2 at 600 °C.  Therefore, incorporating binary (Li/Na)2 carbonate in LSCF-SDC shows a good combination when insignificant changes observed after long-term stability test of 1000 h.

 

Keywords: Binary carbonate; composite cathode; durability; impedances; LT-SOFC

 

ABSTRAK

Kebanyakan kajian fokus dalam memperkenalkan karbonat seria terdop ke dalam bahan katod untuk meningkatkan kekonduksian ionik bagi sel bateri oksida pepejal bersuhu rendah. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti pengaruh penambahan karbonat Litium/Natirum (Li/Na)2 bineri pada katod komposit Lantanum Strontium Kobalt Ferit-Samarium terdop Seria (LSCF-SDC) terhadap kestabilan fasa dan mikrostrukturnya di bawah ujian ketahanan berjangka panjang selama 1000 jam. Tiga nisbah karbonat (Li/Na)2 bineri yang berbeza iaitu 67:33, 62:38, dan 53:47 %mol dicampurkan ke dalam LSCF-SDC menggunakan kaedah pengisaran bebola halaju tinggi. Kestabilan fasa dan mikrostruktur pada suhu operasi (400 dan 600 °C) dikaji menggunakan pembelauan sinar-X (XRD) dan mikroskop medan pancaran imbasan elektron (FESEM). Prinsip Archimedes diaplikasikan untuk mengukur keporosan pelet katod. Pengukuran spektroskopi impedans elektrokimia dilakukan dengan menggunakan persediaan impedans pada 600 °C di bawah keadaan litar terbuka. Hasil XRD membuktikan katod komposit mampu mengekalkan fasa kimianya selepas ujian kestabilan. Keputusan kualitatif morfologi katod menunjukkan sedikit peningkatan dalam saiz zarah selepas 1000 jam proses penuaan. Kesemua katod yang dihasilkan pada nisbah karbonat bineri yang berbeza masih mengekalkan nilai keliangan antara 26 hingga 32% selepas ujian kestabilan berjangka panjang. Hasil kajian memberikan nilai rintangan luas tentu yang rendah iaitu 0.66 Ω.cm2 pada 600 °C. Oleh itu, penambahan karbonat (Li/Na)2 bineri pada LSCF-SDCC menunjukkan kombinasi yang baik apabila tiada perubahan ketara diperhatikan selepas 100 jam ujian kestabilan berjangka panjang.

 

Kata kunci: Bineri karbonat; impedans; katod komposit; ketahanan; LT-SOFC

 

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*Corresponding author; email: hamimah@uthm.edu.my

   

 

 

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