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Solid oxide fuel cells developed by the sol-gel process for oxygen generation
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Title
Solid oxide fuel cells developed by the sol-gel process for oxygen generation
Identifier
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http://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10001600001.ETD.17307
Identifier
ETD_751
Language
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English
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theses
Subject
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Topic
Ceramic and Materials Science and Engineering
Subject
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(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Solid oxide fuel cells
Abstract
Electrochemical fuel cells convert chemical energy directly to electrical energy through the reaction of a fuel and an oxidant. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are solid-state devices that operate at temperatures around 800oC, using a solid oxygen electrolyte. The goal of this thesis is to prepare a defect-free solid oxygen electrolyte by a sol-gel process that is capable of (a) functioning in a fuel cell and (b) producing measurable oxygen when operated as an oxygen generator.
Sol-gel processing was chosen for membrane development because it offers a means of applying high-purity layers with controlled doping and a variety of geometries. In this study, the sol-gel process was used to produce yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte membranes as well as the electrodes required for an operational fuel cell. Zirconium oxychloride (ZOC) was used as the precursor material for the electrolyte. The YSZ solution was prepared by mixing yttrium nitrate and ZOC in a 50/50 ETOH and water solvent. The reaction was catalyzed with 1.5M NH4OH. Viscosity and solution application techniques were varied to monitor the effect on membrane development. The YSZ layer was sintered to full density.
The sol-gel process was used to synthesize supported lanthanum strontium manganate (LSM) electrodes separated by a YSZ electrolyte. The LSM solution was made by mixing strontium nitrate, lanthanum chloride, and manganese acetate solutions. The LSM layers were sintered but were porous. After the membranes were assembled by successive layering and sintering, the membranes and completed fuel cells were characterized using TGA, XRD, FE-SEM, a gas pressurization technique, and electrochemical testing.
The YSZ membrane exhibited a stable tetragonal crystal phase and formed a triple phase boundary (TPB) with the cathode. The three phases are the electrode, the electrolyte, and air. Electrochemical testing showed successful membrane development. Although oxygen production was not measured quantitatively, voltage was produced during hydrogen testing. A maximum voltage of 0.352V was obtained using forming gas as a fuel. The relationship between the TPB and oxygen production is critical. By using the sol-gel process, it is possible to form a TPB where the YSZ electrolyte is dense.
Sol-gel processing was chosen for membrane development because it offers a means of applying high-purity layers with controlled doping and a variety of geometries. In this study, the sol-gel process was used to produce yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte membranes as well as the electrodes required for an operational fuel cell. Zirconium oxychloride (ZOC) was used as the precursor material for the electrolyte. The YSZ solution was prepared by mixing yttrium nitrate and ZOC in a 50/50 ETOH and water solvent. The reaction was catalyzed with 1.5M NH4OH. Viscosity and solution application techniques were varied to monitor the effect on membrane development. The YSZ layer was sintered to full density.
The sol-gel process was used to synthesize supported lanthanum strontium manganate (LSM) electrodes separated by a YSZ electrolyte. The LSM solution was made by mixing strontium nitrate, lanthanum chloride, and manganese acetate solutions. The LSM layers were sintered but were porous. After the membranes were assembled by successive layering and sintering, the membranes and completed fuel cells were characterized using TGA, XRD, FE-SEM, a gas pressurization technique, and electrochemical testing.
The YSZ membrane exhibited a stable tetragonal crystal phase and formed a triple phase boundary (TPB) with the cathode. The three phases are the electrode, the electrolyte, and air. Electrochemical testing showed successful membrane development. Although oxygen production was not measured quantitatively, voltage was produced during hydrogen testing. A maximum voltage of 0.352V was obtained using forming gas as a fuel. The relationship between the TPB and oxygen production is critical. By using the sol-gel process, it is possible to form a TPB where the YSZ electrolyte is dense.
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xi, 144 pages
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Ph.D.
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Includes bibliographical references (p. 129-140).
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Finch
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Joshua S.
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Joshua S. Finch
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Klein
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Lisa C.
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Lisa C. Klein
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Lehman
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Richard
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Richard L. Lehman
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Xu
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Jun
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Jun John Xu
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Jitianu
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Andrei
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Andrei Jitianu
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Crawford
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Holly
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Holly Crawford
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Rutgers University
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Graduate School - New Brunswick
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2008
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2008-05
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Graduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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rucore19991600001
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doi:10.7282/T3Z60PDH
Genre
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ETD doctoral
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The author owns the copyright to this work.
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Copyright protected
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Open
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Joshua Finch
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Rutgers University. Graduate School - New Brunswick
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Non-exclusive ETD license
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Author Agreement License
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I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.
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