Research

Solid Oxide Cells (SOCs)

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) are high-temperature electrochemical devices that operate similarly but serve opposite functions. SOFCs generate electricity from fuel, while SOECs produce fuel by splitting water or CO₂, typically using electricity.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)

SOFCs convert chemical energy from fuels directly into electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction. They are versatile in fuel use, as they can operate with a variety of fuels, such as:

1. Hydrogen (H₂): The most efficient and cleanest fuel for SOFCs, producing only water as a by-product. Hydrogen fuel cells have the highest energy efficiency.

2. Natural Gas (CH₄): SOFCs can internally reform methane into hydrogen and CO, making them suitable for natural gas, though CO₂ is emitted in this process.

3. Ammonia (NH₃): It can be directly fed to SOFCs after decomposition, producing nitrogen and hydrogen. Ammonia can serve as a hydrogen carrier.

Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOECs)

SOECs operate in reverse to SOFCs, using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen or CO₂ into CO and oxygen. They can use similar fuel inputs or outputs:

1. Water (H₂O): The primary fuel for SOECs when producing hydrogen via electrolysis. The electrolysis of water splits it into hydrogen and oxygen.

2. CO₂: SOECs can also be used for CO₂ electrolysis, producing carbon monoxide (CO), which can be used for fuel synthesis (like producing synthetic hydrocarbons).

3. Co-electrolysis (H₂O and CO₂): This method simultaneously splits water and CO₂, producing syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and CO), which can be used for synthetic fuel production.

Perovskite-based Electrodes

Perovskite oxides have attracted significant attention in the field of Solid Oxide Cells (SOCs) due to their versatile structural properties and high performance. In particular, their application in SOCs includes their use as cathodes, anodes, and electrolyte materials, where they contribute to improved electrochemical performance, stability, and efficiency.

Our research group focuses on developing perovskite oxide about solid-state electrodes and ionics, especially surface modification.

Yujie Wu, Hao-Yang Li, Hongfei Chen, Bo Wei, Zhe Lu, and Pei-Chen Su. "Enhanced Catalytic Activity and Durability of Ru-Fe Alloy-modified Sr1.9Fe1.5Mo0.6O6-𝛿 Nanostructured Symmetric Electrode" International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 18 (2024). LINK
Hao-Yang Li, Kittiwat Kamlungsua, Kelvin Ng, Jiyoon Shin, and Pei-Chen Su. "On the Composition of Sr2Fe1.5Mo0.5O6-𝛿-Sm0.2Ce0.8O2-𝛿 Composite as Fuel Electrodes for Hydrogen Reversible Solid Oxide Cells" Fuel (2023). LINK
Hao-Yang Li, and Pei-Chen Su. "Composite of Perovskite and Fluorite Fuel Electrodes for Efficient Carbon Dioxide Electrolysis in Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cells" Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2024). LINK
Hao-Yang Li, Kittiwat Kamlungsua, Jiyoon Shin, and Pei-Chen Su. "Boosting the Performance in Steam Electrolysis of Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell by Potassium-doping in Sr2Fe1.5Mo0.5O6-𝛿 Cathode" Journal of Cleaner Production (2023). LINK
Hao-Yang Li, and Pei-Chen Su. "Applied Current on the Suppression of Strontium Segregation in Sr2Fe1.5Mo0.5O6-𝛿 Electrode for Improved Oxygen Evolution Reaction" Applied Materials Today (2023). LINK
Hao-Yang Li, Kittiwat Kamlungsua, Kelvin Ng, Jiyoon Shin, and Pei-Chen Su. "On the Composition of Sr2Fe1.5Mo0.5O6-𝛿-Sm0.2Ce0.8O2-𝛿 Composite as Fuel Electrodes for Hydrogen Reversible Solid Oxide Cells" Fuel (2023). LINK
Kittiwat Kamlungsua, Tsung-Han Lee, Suhan Lee, Pei-Chen Su and Yong-Jin Yoon. "Inkjet-printed Ag@SDC Core-shell Nanoparticles as a High-performance Cathode for Low-temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 46 (2021): 30853-30860. LINK
Kittiwat Kamlungsua, and Pei-Chen Su. "Moisture-dependent Electrochemical Characterization of Ba0.2Sr1.8Fe1.5Mo0.6O6-𝛿 as the Fuel Electrode for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOECs)." Electrochimica Acta 355 (2020): 136670. LINK
Tsung-Han Lee, Liangdong Fan, Chen-Chiang Yu, Florencia Edith Wiria, and Pei-Chen Su. "A High-performance SDC-infiltrated Nanoporous Silver Cathode with Superior Thermal Stability for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells." Journal of Materials Chemistry A 6 (2018): 7357-7363. LINK
Kang-Yu Liu, Yong Jin Yoon, Seong Hyuk Lee, and Pei-Chen Su. "Sputtered Nanoporous PtNi Thin Film Cathodes with Improved Thermal Stability for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells." Electrochimica Acta 247 (2017): 558-563. LINK
Kang-Yu Liu, Liangdong Fan, Chen-Chiang Yu, and Pei-Chen Su. "Thermal Stability and Performance of Nano-porous Platinum Cathode in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells by Nanoscale ZrO2 Capping." Electrochemistry Communications 56 (2015): 65-69. LINK

Perovskite Composite
(SFMO-CMF)

Surface Cation (Sr) Suppression

Metal-based Electrodes for LT-SOFCs

Metal-based electrodes in SOFCs are typically composed of catalytically active metals such as nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), silver (Ag), and their alloys. These materials are chosen for their ability to facilitate electrochemical reactions, particularly at lower temperature SOFCs (LT-SOFCs).

LT-SOFCs operate below 600 ˚C, which allows for a broader selection of electrode materials, including pure metals. One of the major challenges with metal electrodes is their susceptibility to thermal agglomeration at LT-SOFC operating temperatures. This can lead to a loss of performance over time. Therefore, enhancing the thermal stability of metal-based electrode materials is critical for long-term operation.

To sustain high electrode porosity and stable performance in LT-SOFCs, we have reported several strategies, such as applying a thin oxide capping layer (ALD ZrO2 layer) on the porous Pt electrode, improving the adhesion between the sputtered porous Pt electrode and electrolyte substrate and alloying Pt with another catalytically active metal such as Ni.

Jiyoon Shin, Kittiwat Kamlungsua, Hao-Yang Li, and Pei-Chen Su. "Solvothermal Synthesis of PtNi Nanoparticle Thin Film Cathode with Superior Thermal Stability for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells." International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology 11 (2024): 1-10. LINK
Kang-Yu Liu, Jong Dae Baek, Chee Seng Ng, and Pei-Chen Su. "Improving Thermal Stability of Nanoporous Platinum Cathode at Platinum/yttria-stabilized Zirconia Interface by Oxygen Plasma Treatment." Journal of Power Sources 396 (2018): 73-79. LINK
Tsung-Han Lee, Liangdong Fan, Chen-Chiang Yu, Florencia Edith Wiria, and Pei-Chen Su. "A High-performance SDC-infiltrated Nanoporous Silver Cathode with Superior Thermal Stability for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells." Journal of Materials Chemistry A 6 (2018): 7357-7363. LINK
Kang-Yu Liu, Yong Jin Yoon, Seong Hyuk Lee, and Pei-Chen Su. "Sputtered Nanoporous PtNi Thin Film Cathodes with Improved Thermal Stability for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells." Electrochimica Acta 247 (2017): 558-563. LINK
Kang-Yu Liu, Liangdong Fan, Chen-Chiang Yu, and Pei-Chen Su. "Thermal Stability and Performance of Nano-porous Platinum Cathode in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells by Nanoscale ZrO2 Capping." Electrochemistry Communications 56 (2015): 65-69. LINK

ALD zirconia capping
over porous Pt electrodes

Interface adhesion improvement

Alloying Pt with another catalytically
active Ni metal

Praseodymium-Cerium Oxide Infiltrated Perovskite Cathode with Superior Electrochemical Performance for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Composite cathode design for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) combines Praseodymium Cerium Oxide (PCO) with perovskite oxide to address the strontium segregation issue. Nanoscale PCO, infiltrated onto a porous perovskite backbone, demonstrates significant improvements in durability and efficiency.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse