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 |
Ultra-Fast Sintering of SOECs Electrodes Ceramics: Microstructure Optimization in Seconds via Joule-Driven Heating |
| Author(s) |
Javier A. Mena, Edward Sabolsky, Katarzyna Sabolsky, Tugrul Yumak, Mason Cavalier, Davis Warmuth, Emrah Demirkal |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Javier A. Mena |
| Abstract Scope |
Ultra-Fast High-Temperature Sintering (UHS) offers a transformative route to densify electroceramic materials used in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) in record time, addressing urgent needs for scalable and energy-efficient processing. In this study, SOEC electrodes—NiO-YSZ, GDC, and LSCF—were sintered via Joule-heated carbon felts under argon, reaching >1200 °C in under 120 seconds. Relative densities between 65% - 90% were achieved with grain sizes around 5 µm, significantly outperforming conventional sintering times. SEM and XRD confirmed structural integrity and phase stability, while EIS analysis showed improved electrochemical performance in UHS-processed GDC-LSCF/ LSCF symmetrical cells. Surface nickel segregation in NiO-YSZ was mitigated using custom NiO spacers. Additionally, preliminary UHS tests on proton-conducting ceramics (such as perovskite cerates and zirconates) demonstrated compatibility. These results validate UHS as a rapid, scalable method for engineering high-performance ceramic microstructures, with strong implications for next-generation SOEC manufacturing. |