Analysis of the X-Ray Imaged Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode Microstructure

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anodes are comprised of heterogeneous functional materials that include a pore phase which supports gas transport and solid phases which support ionic and electronic charge transport. A more detailed understanding of the contributions each of these phases makes to overall anode performance is critical for the design and development of next generation SOFCs. In the present work, three dimensional tomographic reconstructions of SOFC anodes are addressed with consideration given to the characterization of distinct pore, ionic and electronic conducting phases. These reconstructions are produced from transmission x-ray microscope (TXM) images taken at 38 nm spatial resolutions. Elemental mapping enabled by the TXM is used to determine the distribution of pore and solid ionic and electronic conducting phases within the anode. The results presented provide key insights into the composition and morphology of SOFC microstructures. The application of x-ray computed tomography (XCT) to ex situ SOFC micrsostructural characterization is demonstrated, and further applications of this technique are discussed.