BaCoO2 with Tetrahedral Cobalt Coordination: The Missing Element to Understand Energy Storage and Conversion Applications in BaCoO3-δ-Based Materials

Barium-cobaltate-based perovskite (BaCoO3-δ) and barium-cobaltate-based nanocomposites have been intensively studied in energy storage and conversion devices mainly due to flexible oxygen stoichiometry and tunable nonprecious transition metal oxidation states. Although a rich and complex family of structural polymorphs has already been reported for these perovskites in the literature, the potential structural evolution that may occur during the oxygen reduction reaction and the oxygen evolution reaction has not been investigated so far. In this study, we synthesized and characterized the lowest Co-oxidation state possible in the compound, BaCoO2, which exhibits a quartz-derived, trigonal structure with a helicoidally corner-sharing, CoO4-tetrahedral-framework as already proposed by Spitsbergen et al. Oxygen can reversibly be inserted in such a crystal structure to form BaCoO3-δ, i.e., with 0 ≤ δ ≤ 1, based on the results of an in situ coupled thermogravimetric - neutron diffraction study and which presents therefore giant oxygen capacity storage due to the extreme tunability of the electronic configuration of the cobalt cations which defines the fundamental origins of the materials performance. The reversible conversion of BaCoO2 to BaCoO3-δ associated with a similar electronic conductivity above 900 K permits to clarify the high potential of BaCoO3-δ-based energy storage and conversion devices.

Co2MnO4/Ce0.8Tb0.2O2-δ Dual-Phase Membrane Material with High CO2 Stability and Enhanced Oxygen Transport for Oxycombustion Processes

Oxygen transport membranes (OTMs) are a promising oxygen production technology with high energy efficiency due to the potential for thermal integration. However, conventional perovskite materials of OTMs are unstable in CO2 atmospheres, which limits their applicability in oxycombustion processes. On the other hand, some dual-phase membranes are stable in CO2 and SO2 without permanent degradation. However, oxygen permeation is still insufficient; therefore, intensive research focuses on boosting oxygen permeation. Here, we present a novel dual-phase membrane composed of an ion-conducting fluorite phase (Ce0.8Tb0.2O2-δ, CTO) and an electronic-conducting spinel phase (Co2MnO4, CMO). CMO spinel exhibits high electronic conductivity (60 S·cm-1 at 800 °C) compared to other spinels used in dual-phase membranes, i.e., 230 times higher than that of NiFe2O4 (NFO). This higher conductivity ameliorates gas-solid surface exchange and bulk diffusion mechanisms. By activating the bulk membrane with a CMO/CTO porous catalytic layer, it was possible to achieve an oxygen flux of 0.25 mL·min-1·cm-2 for the 40CMO/60CTO (%vol), 680 μm-thick membrane at 850 °C even under CO2-rich environments. This dual-phase membrane shows excellent potential as an oxygen transport membrane or oxygen electrode under high CO2 and oxycombustion operation.

Diffusion Barriers Minimizing the Strength Degradation of Reactive Air Brazed Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ Membranes during Aging

The separation of oxygen from air by means of inorganic ceramic membranes requires gas-tight ceramic-metal joints that enable reliable permeation operation in the oxygen partial pressure gradient at 850 °C. Reactive air brazing is a promising method to solve this challenge. However, reactive air brazed BSCF membranes suffer from a significant strength degradation that is caused by unhindered diffusion from the metal component during aging. In this study, we investigated how diffusion layers applied on the austenitic steel AISI 314 influence the bending strength of BSCF-Ag3CuO-AISI314 joints after aging. Three different approaches were compared as diffusion barriers: (1) aluminizing via pack cementation, (2) spray coating with NiCoCrAlReY, and (3) spray coating with NiCoCrAlReY and an additional 7YSZ top layer. Coated steel components were brazed to bending bars and aged for 1000 h at 850 °C in air prior to four-point bending and subsequent macroscopic as well microscopic analyses. In particular, coating with NiCoCrAlReY showed low-defect microstructures. The characteristic joint strength was raised from 17 MPa to 35 MPa after 1000 h aging at 850 °C. In addition, the dominant delamination fracture between the steel and the mixed oxide layer, observed in the reference series with uncoated steel, could be replaced by mixed and ceramic fractures of higher strength. The effect of residual joint stresses on the crack formation and path is analyzed and discussed. Chromium poisoning could no longer be detected in the BSCF, and interdiffusion through the braze was effectively reduced. Since the strength degradation of reactive air brazed joints is mainly caused by the metallic joining partner, the findings on the effect of the diffusion barriers in BSCF joints might be transferred to numerous other joining systems.

Clarifying the Role of the Reducers-to-Oxidizers Ratio in the Solution Combustion Synthesis of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ Oxygen Electrocatalysts

Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ perovskite-type compounds are well-known mixed ionic-electronic conductors for oxygen electrocatalytic applications, although their performance is strictly dependent on the selected preparation methodology and processing parameters. The reducers-to-oxidizers ratio (Φ) is a very important parameter in the solution combustion synthesis of mixed ionic-electronic conductors. Selection of Φ is not trivial and it strongly depends on the type of fuel used, the chemical composition and the specific application of the material. This work clarifies the role of Φ in the solution combustion synthesis of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ for application as oxygen electrocatalysts. Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ powders were synthesized by solution combustion synthesis using sucrose-polyethylene glycol fuel mixtures with reducers-to-oxidizers ratio values between 1 (stoichiometric) and 3 (over-stoichiometric). Chemical-physical properties were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, N2 adsorption at −196 °C, H2-temperature programmed reduction and thermogravimetric analysis. The results evidenced the direct role of Φ on the intensity and redox environment of the combustion process, and its indirect influence on the Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ electrode materials properties. Taking into account the general picture, the highly over-stoichiometric Φ was selected as the optimal one and the electrochemical activity of the corresponding powder was tested by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy on electrolyte-supported half-cells employing a Ce0.8Sm0.2O2-x electrolyte.

In situ X-ray diffraction computed tomography studies examining the thermal and chemical stabilities of working Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ membranes during oxidative coupling of methane

In this study we present the results from two in situ X-ray diffraction computed tomography experiments of catalytic membrane reactors (CMRs) using Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ (BSCF) hollow fibre membranes and Na-Mn-W/SiO2 catalyst during the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction. The negative impact of CO2, when added to the inlet gas stream, is seen to be mainly related to the C2+ yield, while no evidence of carbonate phase(s) formation is found during the OCM experiments. The main degradation mechanism of the CMR is suggested to be primarily associated with the solid-state evolution of the BSCF phase rather than the presence of CO2. Specifically, in situ XRD-CT and post-mortem SEM/EDX measurements revealed a collapse of the cubic BSCF phase and subsequent formation of secondary phases, which include needle-like structures and hexagonal Ba6Co4O12 and formation of a BaWO4 layer, the latter being a result of chemical interaction between the membrane and catalyst materials at high temperatures.

Surface Segregation in Solid Oxide Cell Oxygen Electrodes: Phenomena, Mitigation Strategies and Electrochemical Properties

Abstract

Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are highly efficient and environmentally benign devices that can be used to store renewable electrical energy in the form of fuels such as hydrogen in the solid oxide electrolysis cell mode and regenerate electrical power using stored fuels in the solid oxide fuel cell mode. Despite this, insufficient long-term durability over 5–10 years in terms of lifespan remains a critical issue in the development of reliable SOC technologies in which the surface segregation of cations, particularly strontium (Sr) on oxygen electrodes, plays a critical role in the surface chemistry of oxygen electrodes and is integral to the overall performance and durability of SOCs. Due to this, this review will provide a critical overview of the surface segregation phenomenon, including influential factors, driving forces, reactivity with volatile impurities such as chromium, boron, sulphur and carbon dioxide, interactions at electrode/electrolyte interfaces and influences on the electrochemical performance and stability of SOCs with an emphasis on Sr segregation in widely investigated (La,Sr)MnO3 and (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3−δ. In addition, this review will present strategies for the mitigation of Sr surface segregation.

Graphic Abstract

The p(O2)-T stability domain of cubic perovskite Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ

Cubic perovskite-type Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ (BSCF) is one of the mixed ionic-electronic conductors with the highest oxygen permeability known to date. It serves as a parent material for the development of functional derivatives for electrochemical applications including oxygen separation membranes, solid electrolyte cell electrodes and electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. The present study is focused on the determination of the precise stability boundaries of cubic perovskite BSCF employing a coulometric titration technique in combination with thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray and neutron diffraction, and molecular dynamics simulations. Both the low-p(O₂) and high-p(O₂) stability boundaries at 700-950 °C were found to correspond to a fixed value of oxygen content in the perovskite lattice of 3 - δ = ∼2.13 and ∼2.515, respectively. The stability limits in this temperature range are expressed by the following equations: high-p(O₂) boundary: log p(O₂) (atm) (±0.1) = -10 150/T (K) + 8.055; low-p(O₂) boundary: log p(O₂) (atm) (±0.03) = -20 750/T (K) + 4.681. The p(O₂)-T phase diagram of the BSCF system under oxidizing conditions is addressed in a wider temperature range and is shown to include a region of precipitation of a "low-temperature" phase occurring at 400-500 °C. The fraction of the low-temperature precipitate, which co-exists with the cubic perovskite phase and is stable up to 790-820 °C, increases upon increasing p(O₂) in the range 0.21-1.0 atm.

High temperature X-ray diffraction and thermo-gravimetrical analysis of the cubic perovskite Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ under different atmospheres

Unit cell and non-stoichiometry of Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ in O₂, demonstrating oxidation followed by thermal reduction and formation of a hexagonal phase is reported.