Issue 38, 2010

Measuring individual overpotentials in an operating solid-oxideelectrochemical cell

Abstract

We use photo-electrons as a non-contact probe to measure local electrical potentials in a solid-oxide electrochemical cell. We characterize the cell in operando at near-ambient pressure using spatially-resolved X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The overpotentials at the interfaces between the Ni and Pt electrodes and the yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte are directly measured. The method is validated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Using the overpotentials, which characterize the cell's inefficiencies, we compare without ambiguity the electro-catalytic efficiencies of Ni and Pt, finding that on Ni H2O splitting proceeds more rapidly than H2 oxidation, while on Pt, H2 oxidation proceeds more rapidly than H2O splitting.

Graphical abstract: Measuring individual overpotentials in an operating solid-oxide electrochemical cell

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Feb 2010
Accepted
20 May 2010
First published
09 Aug 2010

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010,12, 12138-12145

Measuring individual overpotentials in an operating solid-oxide electrochemical cell

F. El Gabaly, M. Grass, A. H. McDaniel, R. L. Farrow, M. A. Linne, Z. Hussain, H. Bluhm, Z. Liu and K. F. McCarty, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 12138 DOI: 10.1039/C003581E

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