Advanced Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage 2023: Energy Conversion and Storage Mix I
Sponsored by: TMS Functional Materials Division, TMS: Energy Conversion and Storage Committee
Program Organizers: Jung Choi, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Amit Pandey, Lockheed Martin Space; Partha Mukherjee, Purdue University; Surojit Gupta, University of North Dakota; Soumendra Basu, Boston University; Paul Ohodnicki, University Of Pittsburgh; Eric Detsi, University of Pennsylvania
Monday 8:30 AM
March 20, 2023
Room: 32B
Location: SDCC
Session Chair: Partha Mukherjee, Purdue University; Soumendra Basu, Boston University
8:30 AM Keynote
Analysis of Degradation of (Ni-YSZ) Fuel Electrode during SOEC Operation: Uday Pal1; John-In Lee1; Jillian Mulligan1; Ayesha Akter1; Soumendra Basu1; Srikanth Gopalan1; 1Boston University
Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) are used to convert steam to hydrogen gas in our effort to transition to a renewable-energy economy. SOECs currently suffer from durability issues. Durability of SOECs is affected by numerous factors. Here we investigate performance degradation associated with the Nickel-Yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ) fuel electrode. This problem is thought to be caused primarily by nickel in the Ni-cermet driven by the chemical reaction, Ni(bulk)+H2O+Empty Ni(111)site ↔ NiOH on Ni(111)site+1/2H2. This phenomenon is investigated by changing operating condition, such as flow rate of hydrogen and H2O content of the fuel side gas. Furthermore, these experimental parameters are also being studied with GDC infiltrated Ni-YSZ fuel electrodes to determine whether the infiltration can positively influence these reactions and enhance performance durability. Measurements to evaluate and analyze performance of these fuel electrodes include I-V measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, distribution of relaxation times, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
9:00 AM Invited
Corrosion Resistant SiOCN Coatings on Steel with Repair Capability: Kathy Lu1; Hyeon Joon Choi1; 1Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Corrosion of spent nuclear fuel storage canister is a serious concern due to deposition of corrosive marine salts by inducing chloride-induced pitting corrosion. Ceramic coatings are desirable options thanks to their high resistance to corrosive environments and good mechanical properties. However, the interfacial compatibility with the steel substrate is a challenge. In this study, a SiOCN coating has been developed based on polysilazane and polysiloxane preceramic polymers. The multilayer coating system consists of a 600 nm thick SiON bond coat, a 66 nm thick SiOC buffer layer, a 604 nm thick SiONC main coat, and a 50 nm thick SiON/SiO2 top coat. Coating composition and structural evolution were analyzed. The SiOCN amorphous coating showed improved hardness and reduced modulus than the SiON layer only. The coating can also be repaired after damage. This coating provides a new approach of extending the lifetime of nuclear waste container in corrosive conditions.
9:25 AM Keynote
SolidPAC: A Design Tool for Solid-state Batteries
: Ilias Belharouak1; 1Oak Ridge National Laboratory; University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Solid state batteries have the potential to be significant next-generation technologies for high-energy and high-power-density rechargeable battery applications. It is crucial to identify the metrics that an emerging battery technology should fulfill to achieve parity with conventional lithium-ion batteries, primarily in terms of energy density. However, limited approaches exist today to assess and extrapolate the impact of battery designs and choices of cell components on the cell-level energy density of an SSB. The Solid-State Battery Performance Analyzer and Calculator (SolidPAC) is an interactive experimental tool kit that enables SSB design for user-specified application requirements. The tool kit is flexible, enabling the battery community to quantify the effects of materials chemistry and fractions, electrode thicknesses and loadings, and electron flows on cell energy density and costs and to use reverse-engineering concepts to correlate the cell energy density output to materials and cell design inputs.
9:55 AM Break
10:15 AM Invited
Dielectrics, Solid Electrolytes, and Ferroelectrics: What Makes a Good Insulator Layer in Energy Harvesting and Storage Cells Good?: Maria Helena Braga1; 1University of Porto
With the advent of an electric world, it is conceivable that the energy harvesting and storage devices as we know them today will suffer a breakthrough that modifies the cell architecture’s panorama. Comparing well-known materials and performances with multivalent materials in the same cell that allows for insulator and electrode thicknesses well beyond the conventional dimensions, consents for clear phenomena visualization. Here we analyze an Al/insulator/Cu cell in which the cell metal electrodes-collectors are separated by a thick SiO2, MgO, Li2O, Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3, HfO2, or Li2.99Ba0.005ClO layer of powders with similar granulometry. Using atomic force microscopy, Kelvin probe and impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and theoretical approaches such as structure optimization, simulation of the electronic band structures, and work functions, a comparison was drawn. The analysis reveals an unexpected common emergency from the cell’s materials to align their surface chemical potential, even in operando when set to discharge with a resistor.