About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T25: Materials Science & Technology
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| Symposium
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Processing and Performance of Materials Using Microwaves, Electric and Magnetic Fields, Ultrasound, Lasers, and Mechanical Work – Rustum Roy Symposium
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| Presentation Title |
Microwave-Assisted Sintering of SOEC Electrodes Materials for Accelerated Sintering Kinetics, Microstructural Development, Defect Formation, and Chemical Stability |
| Author(s) |
Javier A. Mena, Edward Sabolsky, Katarzyna Sabolsky, Tugrul Yumak, Mason Cavalier, Shavinka Jayasekera, Geethanath Duggiralla, Terence Musho, Ansan Pokharel |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Javier A. Mena |
| Abstract Scope |
Microwave sintering (MWS) is emerging as a high-efficiency method for fabricating solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) components due to its rapid heating and energy-saving potential. This study explores MWS effects on the densification behavior and microstructural evolution of NiO-YSZ fuel electrodes and LSCF-GDC/LSCF air electrodes. Samples were sintered between 800–1300 °C for 10–30 minutes, utilizing electromagnetic interactions and thermal gradients from SiC susceptors. Results show that MWS enables up to 65% to 95% densification with significantly reduced dwell times. Microstructural analysis via SEM and XRD revealed grain coarsening and stable phase composition, while EIS on symmetrical LSCF-GDC/ LSCF cells confirmed lowered polarization resistance. The findings suggest that microwave-material coupling accelerates sintering and impacts grain boundary mobility and porosity, offering a pathway for tailored electrode architectures. This work highlights the importance of sintering configuration and thermal field design in optimizing MWS for advanced SOEC fabrication. |