Laboratory for Electrochemical Devices Based on Solid Oxide Proton Electrolytes

Scientific results:

1. We have researched the processes of  electro- and mass transfer implemented in solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC) based on proton-conducting materials in various modes (with a constant or changing composition of the gas atmosphere along an electrolyte membrane). In conducted computations we accounted for the effect of the defect structure of materials, the current in the external circuit, the distribution of partial currents and local electroneutrality on the distribution of proton conductivity in the membrane, the average proton conductivity, as well as the open-circuit voltage. Computations have been presented for cases of unipolar and mixed ion-electronic conductivity.
2. We have synthesizes and studied the properties of boron silicate glass sealant. Their compatibility with electrolytes was checked using X-ray phase analysis, scanning electron microscopy and by assessing the adhesion properties.
3. The Laboratory has synthesized electrode materials for applications in SOFC to replace the costly platinum electrodes. We researched their structural, thermal, electric properties, as well as their compatibility with electrolytes based on barium cerate and zirconate. The most optimal compositions were found.
4. Our researchers have optimized electrolyte materials in such parameters as stability, ion conductivity and thermal expansion. We conducted research to determine the correlation between the nature of the acceptor dopant as well as the concentration of the sintering admixture, and changes in the above-mentioned properties. We produced new electrolytes that became the basis of cells of a hydrogen sensor and a reversible solid-oxide fuel cell. We produced fundamentally new materials based on barium cerate-zirconate doped with acceptor admixtures and studied their functional properties,  including microstructural, thermal and transport characteristics. It was found that Dy-containing  systems are characterized by the best electrical characteristics both in terms of the volume of ceramics and its grain boundaries. We have studied a series of the composition BaCe_0.8–xZr_xDy_0.2O_3–δ and determined the compositions of materials suitable for electrolysers for hydrogen production or for carbon dioxide reduction to carbon monoxide.
5. The Laboratory has developed planar electrochemical to check the possibility of electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide using an electrolysis reactor based on proton-conducting electrolytes. The planar-type cell was produced using joint rolling of films and consisted of a 50 µm film of the selected electrolyte.
6. Our researchers have studied the peculiarities of applying protective coatings to the Croffer interconnector to improve its stabilization characteristics in the context of testing  solid oxide fuel cells and solid-oxide electrolyzers.
7. As part of our work in this direction, we conducted comprehensive  research related to  developing new designs of electrochemical devices (solid-oxide sensors), new multi-layer elements (electrolyte/electrode heterostructures, composite electrodes) for future electrochemical applications, studying the electrode processes occurring in electrochemical devices and processes of oxygen mass transfer through the «solid/body» phase interface. Along with applied developments, we also performed theoretical research devoted to modeling electro- and mass transfer and investigated degradation processes in electrochemical devices.

Implemented results of research: 

• At our laboratory we have designed and manufactured an experimental prototype of a sensor to find oxygen content made for determining current yields in the «metallization» electrolyzer – one of the apparatuses of the pyrochemical reprocessing of nuclear fuel recycling (Rosatom project code name «Breakthrough»).
• An industrial partner of the institute, the small innovative enterprise «ElektroKhimGeneratsiya» LLC, used scientific research results achieved by the Laboratory to develop and produce experimental prototypes of devices for the purification of inert gases by eliminating oxygen. These devices are designed for removing oxygen from argon used for supporting the operation of an apparatus for the pyrochemical reprocessing of nuclear waste recycling (Rosatom project codename «Breakthrough»)..
• The Laboratory has developed technological manuals for manufacturing ceramic products by plasma spraying and technical requirements «Plasma-sprayed dense products from zirconium dioxide».

Education and career development:

Four Candidate of Sciences dissertations and 2 Doctor of Sciences dissertations have been prepared and defended.

Two study guides have been developed

Delivered courses: 

• The variative course «Technologies for publishing articles in highly-ranked journals» within the higher education program for training scientific and pedagogical personnel in the postgraduate school , Institute of High Temperature Electrochemistry of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
• Lecture course «General and bioinorganic chemistry», Ural Federal University.
• Lecture course «History and methodology of chemistry», Ural Federal University.
• Laboratory case study «General chemistry»,  Ural Federal University.
• Laboratory case study «Chemistry of s- and p-elements», Ural Federal University.

Collaborations: 

Collaborations with Russian organizations:

• Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences: conducting joint research to develop new proton conductors.

International cooperation:

• WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, Australia: conducting joint research to the field of solid-oxide fuel cells.
• Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Materials and Ceramic Engineering, University of Aveiro, Portugal: conducting joint research in the domain of ionics and solid-state chemistry.
• Institute of Materials for Energy and Environment, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, PR China: conducting joint research in the field of  proton-conducting materials and devices based on them.
• College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, China:conducting joint research in proton-conducting materials and devices based on them.