Influence of Cathode Polarization Change on Chromium Deposited on Electrolyte Surface Near Cathode Reaction Sites of SOFC

Abstract

It has been clarified that Cr deposition occurs significantly on the electrolyte surface near cathode reaction sites as a consequence of cathode polarization. In this study, we investigated the influence of a change in the cathode polarization on the Cr deposited on the electrolyte surface by using NiO/YSZ or NiO/GDC as the cathode material. The deposited Cr segregated at the interface of NiO and YSZ in the case of the NiO/YSZ cathode after a decrease in the cathode polarization, which suggests nucleation under a cathode polarization of 200 mV and growth of Cr compounds after decreasing the cathode polarization. In contrast, the amount of deposited Cr decreased in the case of the NiO/GDC cathode after decreasing the cathode polarization.