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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 847 records · Page 47
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

One‐Step Thermal Gradient‐ and Antisolvent‐Free Crystallization of All‐Inorganic Perovskites for Highly Efficient and Thermally Stable Solar Cells

Abstract All‐inorganic perovskites have emerged as promising photovoltaic materials due to their superior thermal stability compared to their heat‐sensitive hybrid organic–inorganic counterparts. In particular, CsPbI 2 Br shows the highest potential for developing thermally‐stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs) among all‐inorganic compositions. However, controlling the crystallinity and morphology of all‐inorganic compositions is a significant challenge. Here, a simple, thermal gradient‐ and antisolvent‐free method is reported to control the crystallization of CsPbI 2 Br films. Optical in situ characterization is used to investigate the dynamic film formation during spin‐coating and annealing to understand and optimize the evolving film properties. This leads to high‐quality perovskite films with micrometer‐scale grain sizes with a noteworthy performance of 17% (≈16% stabilized), fill factor (FF) of 80.5%, and open‐circuit voltage ( V OC ) of 1.27 V. Moreover, excellent phase and thermal stability are demonstrated even after extreme thermal stressing at 300 °C.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Controlled synthesis of concave tetrahedral palladium nanocrystals by reducing Pd(acac){sub 2} with carbon monoxide

Graphical abstract: By using CO as a reducing agent, uniform and well-defined concave tetrahedral Pd nanocrystals were successfully synthesized. CO flow rate was the most essential for the formation of the concave tetrahedral nanostructures. The morphologies and sizes of the final products can be well controlled by adjusting the flow rate of CO. Highlights: ► By using CO as a reducing agent, concave tetrahedral Pd nanocrystals were obtained. ► CO flow rate is critical to the formation of concave tetrahedral Pd nanocrystals. ► The selective adsorption of CO on (1 1 0) facets is essential to concave Pd tetrahedra. -- Abstract: CO reducing strategy to control the morphologies of palladium nanocrystals was investigated. By using CO as a reducing agent, uniform and well-defined concave tetrahedral Pd nanocrystals with a mean size of about 55 ± 2 nm were readily synthesized with Pd(acac){sub 2} as a precursor and PVP as a stabilizer. The structures of the as-prepared Pd nanocrystals were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements. The results demonstrated that CO was the most essential for the formation of the concave tetrahedral Pd nanostructures. The morphologies and sizes of the final products can be well controlled by adjusting the flow rate of CO. The most appropriate CO flow rate, temperature and time for the formation of the ideal concave tetrahedral Pd nanocrystals was 0.033 mL s{sup −1}, 100 °C and 3 h, respectively.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

In-situ synthesis of Au nano particles of co-existing morphologies in liquid crystalline matrix

The present study describes the in-situ synthesis of Au nano particles (Au-NP) in the room temperature nematic liquid crystalline (LC) substance MBBA (N-4 methoxybenzylidene 4 butylaniline) without any external reducing or stabilizing agents. UV-Visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy clearly show formation of Au-NP within the LC matrix through the plasmon resonance peak for the NPs and EDAX measurements confirm this formation. Transmission electron Microscopy shows co-existence of spherical and prismatic NPs. FTIR spectroscopy shows a considerable shift in the C=N stretch band pointing to the location of the growth centre of the NPs. Polarization microscopy data indicates a definite phase ordering and texture transformation from Nematic to highly ordered smectic mesophase.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Effect of surfactant amount on the morphology and magnetic properties of monodisperse ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanoparticles

Graphical abstract: Polyol process to monodisperse ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanoparticles. - Highlights: • An one-step, facile and inexpensive synthetic route to monodisperse ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanoparticles is described. • The sodium citrate stabilized ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanoparticles with a diameter in the 5–8 nm size range can be easily dispersed in water. • The synthesis is very robust in terms of variations of experimental parameters. • ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanoparticles present ferrimagnetic behavior at room temperature with a small hysteresis. - Abstract: The spinel ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} ferrites with sodium citrate as a surfactant were fabricated by polyol process. The effect of surfactant amount on the structure, morphology and magnetic properties of ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} ferrites were investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG–DSC) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), respectively. The results indicate that the structure of ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} ferrites is a pure cubic spinel structure with a particle size of 5–8 nm. The dispersion of the synthesized ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} is enhanced when the mole ratio of Fe(acac){sub 3} to sodium citrate decreases. The synthesized particles present ferrimagnetic behavior with a small hysteresis at room temperature. The increase of surfactant amount conversely leads to the decrease in the saturation magnetization value (Ms) especially when the mole ratio of Fe(acac){sub 3} to sodium citrate decreases to 8:3. Its Ms value is drastically reduced to 18.97 emu/g.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Synthesis, structure and electrochemical properties of polyaniline/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite for lithium battery

Graphical abstract: Hydrothermal method was introduced for the synthesis of MoO{sub 3} nanobelts and polyaniline (PANI)/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composites. The structure and morphology of the samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared radiation (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. We can see the presence of polyaniline on the MoO{sub 3} nanobelts surface in the TEM pictures as shown in Fig. (a). The pure MoO{sub 3} nanobelts exhibit the initial specific capacity 276 mAhg{sup −1}, whereas PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite shows little low initially 228 mAhg{sup −1} after that it has more stabilized specific capacity with increasing cycle numbers as shown in Fig. (b). The cyclic voltammograms of the PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite show better cyclic performance compared to pure MoO{sub 3} nanobelts. The electrochemical impedance spectres were studied for both the pure and PANI/MoO{sub 3} samples at 2.0 and 3.5 potentials. The role of the PANI polymeric component of the composite material seems to be the stabilization of the specific capacity due to probable homogeneous distribution of the induced stress during cycling. Display Omitted Highlights: ► Hydrothermal synthesis of MoO{sub 3}, PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelts. ► Samples were characterised by XRD, FTIR, DSC, SEM, TEM, CV and impedance. ► MoO{sub 3} nanobelts cathode battery shows initial specific capacity 276 mAhg{sup −1}. ► PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelts show initial specific capacity 228 mAhg{sup −1} but high stability. ► PANI/MoO{sub 3} sample studies by impedance at the potentials of 2.0 and 3.5 V. -- Abstract: The MoO{sub 3} nanobelts and polyaniline (PANI)/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite were synthesized using hydrothermal method. The crystal structure and morphology of the samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared radiation (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and thermo gravimetric (TG) measurements were carried out for PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite. The pure MoO{sub 3} nanobelts exhibit the initial specific capacity 276 mAhg{sup −1}, whereas PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite showed little low initially 228 mAhg{sup −1} after that it has more stabilized specific capacity with increasing cycle numbers at constant current density of 30.7 mAg{sup −1} in the potential range 1.0–4.0 V vs. Li/Li{sup +}. The electrochemical impedance profiles were also studied. The cyclic voltammograms of the PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite showed better cyclic performance as compared with pure MoO{sub 3} nanobelts, this is due to the role of PANI polymeric component stabilization of the specific capacity by homogeneous distribution within nanobelts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Investigation of grain-boundary geometry and pores morphology in dense and porous cubic zirconia polycrystals

Highlights: • Cubic zirconia sinters were investigated in three dimensions using dual-beam FEGSEM. • The 3D-EBSD technique was successfully applied to non-conductive ceramics. • New sample preparation approach to automated 3D-EBSD was proposed. • Grain boundary microstructures were reconstructed from inverse pole figure maps. • Pore microstructures were reconstructed from image quality maps. - Abstract: Three-dimensional electron backscatter diffraction technique was used for the visualization of grain boundary geometry and pore morphology in cubic zirconia. A set of four samples sintered under different conditions was investigated. Specimens which were characterized by energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were entirely composed of cubic phase. Investigations of boundaries and pore structures were carried out in a dual-beam scanning electron microscope. For each sample, a volume of 1000 μm{sup 3} was investigated. The analysis of grain boundary networks reconstructed from inverse pole figure maps revealed a strong dependence between grain boundary density and sample preparation parameters. Sintering also affects the size and distribution of pores. The total number of grains analyzed varied from 17 to 357 and the calculated volume of cavities from 0.01% to 21%. This paper shows the application of three-dimensional crystallographic orientation analysis to characterize the microstructure of yttria stabilized zirconia ceramics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Twin nucleation and growth in hexagonal close-packed metals: The role of slip-mediated plasticity on twin embryo formation and evolution

Twinning is a key deformation mechanism in hexagonal close-packed (hcp) metals, which are typified by a lack of easily activated slip systems that can accommodate a general state of loading. Pragmatically, the nucleation and evolution of twin domains occurs concomitantly with slip, such that the eventual twin network is conditioned by both external and internal stresses resulting, among others, from the evolution of dislocations. However our understanding of the interplay between dislocations, and twin nucleation and stability remains limited. This work focuses on elucidating the influence of dislocation-mediated plasticity on the formation, growth, and stability of twin embryos. First, a new mesoscale spectral crystal plasticity-twinning framework is developed and used to quantify the change in the free energy landscape following the nucleation {$10\bar{1}2$} of twins in Mg. Representative twin morphologies are modeled under conditions of limited and profuse slip activity, which are emulative of small- and bulk-scale samples, respectively. Then, the driving traction profiles around twin embryos are investigated via a sharp interface approach to obtain insights into how concurrent slip-mediated plasticity can influence the growth/stabilization of nanometric twins. The driving traction profiles are further utilized to determine the stability of twin embryos post loading. The initial dislocation density in the samples, and within the different domains (i.e., twin vs. parent), is seen to have a significant effect on the twin nucleation stress. Namely, the activation of high levels of concomitant plasticity in the parent grain is seen to significantly drive the formation of nanometric twin nuclei at stresses as low as 250 MPa. Further, the sharp interface analysis reveals that profuse plasticity in the parent grain simultaneously alters the forward and back stresses, such that the magnitude/polarity of the driving tractions become increasingly favorable for nanometric twin growth when slip is active. Finally, prior plasticity in the parent grain is seen to result in favorable driving tractions for nanometric twin growth, even at applied stresses as low as ~ 100 MPa. In conclusion, these results are in stark contrast to a case without any dislocations, wherein applied stresses as high as ~ 500 MPa are necessary to grow the twin domains.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Tunable 3D Aerosol Jet Printing of Low‐Power Redox‐Gated Transistors with Multicomponent Inks

Printed hybrid electronics (PHE) offer a promising alternative for microelectronics fabrication, addressing some limitations of traditional subtractive manufacturing. Despite the versatility of PHE, particularly in the customization of printing inks, these devices have not yet matched the performance of silicon-based electronics due to challenges in gating mechanisms and operational stability. However, the potential of low-voltage redox-gating to achieve significant carrier modulations in correlated metal oxides remains unexplored in PHE. This study systematically investigates vanadium dioxide (VO 2 ) nanoparticles and redox inks, linking their organization in solution to their morphology, phase state, and properties in solid films and multilayered structures. Using an aerosol jet printer (AJP), a solid-state VO 2 transistor is fabricated, operating at just 0.4 V gating voltage. The printed VO 2 films demonstrate redox-modulated conductivity and consistent transistor behavior. The solid-state redox gating materials also provide long-term stability, with the device maintaining performance over 6000 cycles without degradation. These results highlight the potential of redox gating to enhance the application of functional nanoparticles in printed hybrid microelectronics, especially for flexible, low-voltage, and energy-efficient devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Effect of intrinsic curvature and edge tension on the stability of binary mixed-membrane three-junctions

We use a combination of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical modeling to examine three-junctions in mixed lipid bilayer membranes. These junctions are localized defect lines in which three bilayers merge in such a way that each bilayer shares one monolayer with one of the other two bilayers. The resulting local morphology is non-lamellar, resembling the threefold symmetric defect lines in inverse hexagonal phases, but it regularly occurs during membrane fission and fusion events. We realize a system of junctions by setting up a honeycomb lattice, which in its primitive cell contains two hexagons and four three-line junctions, permitting us to study their stability as well as their line tension. We specifically consider the effects of lipid composition and intrinsic curvature in binary mixtures, which contain a fraction of negatively curved lipids in a curvature-neutral background phase. Three-junction stability results from a competition between the junction and an open edge, which arises if one of the three bilayers detaches from the other two. We show that the stable phase is the one with the lower defect line tension. The strong and opposite monolayer curvatures present in junctions and edges enhance the mole fraction of negatively curved lipids in junctions and deplete it in edges. This lipid sorting affects the two line tensions and in turn the relative stability of the two phases. It also leads to a subtle entropic barrier for the transition between junction and edge that is absent in uniform membranes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Boosting the H 2 –D 2 Exchange Activity of Dilute Nanoporous Ti–Cu Catalysts through Oxidation–Reduction Cycle–Induced Restructuring

The use of nanoporous metals as catalysts has attracted significant interest in recent years. Their high-curvature, nanoscale ligaments provide not only high surface area but also a high density of undercoordinated step edge and kink sites. However, their long-term stability, especially at higher temperatures, is often limited by thermal coarsening and the associated loss of surface area. Herein, it is demonstrated that the nanoscale morphology of nanoporous Cu can be regenerated by applying oxidation/reduction cycles at 250 °C. Specifically, the morphological evolution and H 2 dissociation activity of hierarchical nanoporous Cu catalysts doped with Ti during structural rearrangement triggered by oxidative and reductive atmospheres at elevated temperatures are studied. In addition to coarsening of the structure at elevated temperatures, oxidation at 400 °C causes an expansion of the ligaments. Further, subsequent reduction at 400 °C leads to the formation of particles and a drop in the H 2 dissociation activity compared the fresh catalyst. However, performing the redox cycle at 250 °C reverses coarsening and boosts the H 2 dissociation activity for the hydrogen–deuterium (H 2 –D 2 ) reaction. Herein, the possibility to reverse coarsening is demonstrated, thereby mitigating the loss of activity frequently observed in nanoporous catalysts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Ultralight carbon aerogel from nanocellulose as a highly selective oil absorption material

The synthesis of a sponge-like carbon aerogel from microfibril cellulose (MFC), with high porosity (99%), ultra-low density (0.01 g/cm3), hydrophobic properties (149° static contact angle) and reusability is reported in this paper. The physical properties, internal morphology, thermal properties, and chemical properties of carbon aerogels heat-treated at 700 and 900 °C (Samples C-700 and C-900) were examined. Stabilization and carbonization parameters were optimized in terms of residual carbon yield. The BET surface area of Sample C-700 (521 m 2 /g) was significantly higher than of Sample C-950 (149 m 2 /g). Graphitic-like domains were observed in C-950. The highest normalized sorption capacity (86 g/g) for paraffin oil was observed in sample C-700. The removal of hydrophilic function groups during carbonization causes carbon aerogel to present highly hydrophobic properties. Lastly, carbon aerogel's ability to absorb oil is enhanced by its highly porous 3D network structure with interconnected cellulose nanofibrils.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Impacts of Lanthanum Impurities on Nickel-Rich Cathode Materials

The widespread use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has led to environmental concerns and exacerbated the scarcity of essential minerals, underscoring the urgent need for effective recycling strategies. Among various recycling methods, the hydrometallurgical process is distinguished by its energy efficiency and minimal environmental impact. Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries are a significant source of nickel sulfate (NiSO 4 ) for hydrometallurgical recycling due to their substantial nickel content. A significant challenge arises from the effective separation of lanthanum (La), which results in at least 20 ppm of La being present in the recycled NiSO 4 . This study explores a critical aspect of the recycling process: the impact of La 3+ impurities, introduced through recycled NiSO 4 , on the performance of the synthesized nickel-rich cathode materials. We conducted a thorough investigation into how La 3+ influences morphology and structural integrity during both the synthesis of precursors and the production of cathode materials. Our findings indicate that La 3+ impurities do not adversely affect the morphology or structural integrity of the cathode precursors relative to virgin materials. However, higher concentrations of La 3+ reduce the discharge capacity with enhanced cycle stability by minimizing cation mixing between lithium (Li + ) and nickel (Ni 2+ ) ions within the cathode. Furthermore, this stability is crucial for extending battery life. Therefore, controlling the concentration of La 3+ impurities is essential for optimizing the electrochemical performance of recycled cathode materials.

Corrosion↗
DOE OSTI2017

Mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon microfibers derived from Mg-biquinoline-dicarboxy compound for efficient oxygen electroreduction

An in-situ MgO-templating synthesis route was introduced to obtain the mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon microfibers by thermal conversion of new Mg-2,2′-biquinoline 4,4-dicarboxy acid coordination compound (Mg-DCA) microfibers. The investigated crystal structure of Mg-DCA testified that the assembling of Mg{sup 2+} and DCA through Mg-O coordination bond and hydrogen bond contributed to the formation of one-dimensional (1D) crystalline Mg-DCA microfibers. The nitrogen-doped carbons derived from the pyrolysis of Mg-DCA showed the well-defined microfiber morphology with high mesopore-surface area. Such mesoporous microfibers exhibited the efficient catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline solutions with better stability and methanol-tolerance performance. - Graphical abstract: Mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon microfibers with efficient oxygen electroreduction activity were prepared by thermal conversion of new Mg-biquinoline-based coordination compound microfibers.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

TOP as ligand and solvent to synthesize silver telluride nanosheets

Highlights: • Silver telluride nanosheets were prepared through one-pot synthetic strategy. • TOP as both ligand and solvent favors silver telluride nanosheets growth. • The I–V curve of an Ag{sub 2}Te-nanosheet film indicates that as-prepared Ag{sub 2}Te nanosheets have good electric conductivity. - Abstract: Ag{sub 2}Te nanosheets are synthesized by a simple one-pot route using trioctylphosphine (TOP) as both solvent and stabilizer. Various controlling parameters were examined, such as molar ratios of AgNO{sub 3} to tellurium powder, reaction temperature and time, and precursor concentration. The morphology and composition of the products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. On the basis of a series of synthesis and characterizations, the formation mechanism of the Ag{sub 2}Te nanosheets are discussed. The I–V curve of an Ag{sub 2}Te-nan osheet film indicates that as-prepared Ag{sub 2}Te nanosheets have good electric conductivity.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Lateral Structure Formation in Polyelectrolyte Brushes Induced by Multivalent Ions

We provide a theoretical model for the collapse of polyelectrolyte brushes in the presence of multivalent ions, focusing on the formation of lateral inhomogeneties in the collapsed state. Polyelectrolyte brushes are important in a variety of applications, including stabilizing colloidal particles and lubricating surfaces. Many uses rely on the extension of the densely grafted polymer chains from the surface in the extended brush morphology. In the presence Extended Brush of multivalent ions, brushes are significantly shorter than in monovalent ionic solutions, which greatly affects their properties. We base our theoretical analysis on an analogous collapse of polyelectrolyte brushes in a poor solvent, providing an energy balance representation for pinned micelles and cylindrical bundles. The equilibrium brush heights predicted for these structures are of a similar magnitude to those measured experimentally. The formation of lateral structures can open new avenues for stimuli-responsive applications that rely on nanoscale pattern formation on surfaces.

Brettmann, Blair↗
DOE OSTI2015

Phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography-based vibrometry using a highly phase-stable akinetic swept laser source

Phase-sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (PhOCT) is an emerging tool for in vivo investigation of the vibratory function of the intact middle and inner ear. PhOCT is able to resolve micron scale tissue morphology in three dimensions as well as measure picometer scale motion at each spatial position. Most PhOCT systems to date have relied upon the phase stability offered by spectrometer detection. On the other hand swept laser source based PhOCT offers a number of advantages including balanced detection, long imaging depths, and high imaging speeds. Unfortunately the inherent phase instability of traditional swept laser sources has necessitated complex user developed hardware/software solutions to restore phase sensitivity. Here we present recent results using a prototype swept laser that overcomes these issues. The akinetic swept laser is electronically tuned and precisely controls sweeps without any mechanical movement, which results in high phase stability. We have developed an optical fiber based PhOCT system around the akinetic laser source that had a 1550 nm center wavelength and a sweep rate of 140 kHz. The stability of the system was measured to be 4.4 pm with a calibrated reflector, thus demonstrating near shot noise limited performance. Using this PhOCT system, we have acquired structural and vibratory measurements of the middle ear in a mouse model, post mortem. The quality of the results suggest that the akinetic laser source is a superior laser source for PhOCT with many advantages that greatly reduces the required complexity of the imaging system.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Fundamental Investigations and Rational Design of Durable High-Performance SOFC Cathodes

The main objective of this project is to unravel the degradation mechanism of LSCF cathodes under realistic operating conditions with different types of contaminants, aiming towards the rational design of cathodes with high-performance and enhanced durability by combining a porous backbone (such as LSCF) with a thin catalyst coating. The mechanistic understanding will help us to optimize the composition and morphology of the catalyst layer and microstructure of the LSCF backbone for better performance and durability. More specifically, the technical objectives include: (1) to unravel the degradation mechanism of LSCF cathodes under realistic operating conditions with different types of contaminants using in situ and ex situ measurements performed on specially-designed cathodes; (2) to examine the microstructural and compositional evolution of LSCF cathodes as well as the cathode/electrolyte interfaces under realistic operating conditions; (3) to correlate the fuel cell performance instability and degradation with the microstructural and morphological evolution and surface chemistry change of the cathode under realistic operating conditions; (4) to explore new catalyst materials and electrode structures to enhance the stability of the LSCF cathode under realistic operating conditions; and (5) to validate the long term stability of the modified LSCF cathode in commercially available cells under realistic operating conditions. We have systematically evaluated LSCF cathodes in symmetrical cells and anode supported cells under realistic conditions with different types of contaminants such as humidity, CO 2 , and Cr. Electrochemical models for the design of test cells and understanding of mechanisms have been developed for the exploration of fundamental properties of electrode materials. It is demonstrated that the activity and stability of LSCF cathodes can be degraded by the introduction of contaminants. The microstructural and compositional evolution of LSCF cathodes as well as the cathode/electrolyte interfaces under realistic operating conditions has been studied. It is found that SrO readily segregated/enriched on the LSCF surface. More severe contamination conditions cause more SrO on surface. Novel catalyst coatings through particle depositions (PrOx) or continuous thin films (PNM) were successfully developed to improve the activity and stability of LSCF cathodes. Finally, we have demonstrated enhanced activity and stability of LSCF cathodes over longer periods of time in homemade and commercially available cells by an optimized PNM (dense film and particles) infiltration process, under clean air and realistic operating conditions (3% H 2 O, 5% CO 2 and direct Crofer contact). Both performance and durability of single cells with PNM coating has been enhanced compared with those without coating. Raman analysis of cathodes surface indicated that the intensity of SrCrO 4 was significantly decreased.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗