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DOE OSTI2024

Pathway Study for Large-Scale Hydrogen Production from Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell Technology

This poster was presented at the 2024 FECM/NETL Spring R&D Project Review Meeting. This data is a summary of a project involving large-scale hydrogen production via SOEC technology to identify a technology pathway to achieve the $1/kg hydrogen goal. The poster lays out the identified pathway and technology changes, assumptions, systems, cost results, and sensitivities along with discussion points.

Buchheit, Kyle L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Reversible solid oxide cells: Early performance and microstructural evolution during electrolysis and switched mode operation

Incorporating more renewables into our energy mix will require a diversity of technological solutions. Reversible solid oxide cell systems (RSOCs) operating reversibly between fuel cell and electrolysis modes with high round-trip efficiencies offer one such solution. However, questions remain about the stability of the oxygen and fuel electrodes under reversible operation. Here, in this study, single cells with the configuration Ni-YSZ|YSZ|GDC10|NNO-NDC50|NNO are operated by reversible cycling under potentiostatic conditions. Test conditions are chosen to be representative of average stack conditions that are likely to be encountered during operation of a stack constructed of such cells. The results of reversible cycling over 500 h (21 cycles) are compared with operating the cells under potentiostatic conditions in the electrolysis-only mode (i.e., without cycling). Voltage-current density (DC), AC complex impedance spectroscopy, distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicate excellent reversibility and stability of the neodymium nickelate-based oxygen electrodes in both electrolysis and reversible cycling modes. Degradation behavior is attributed to the loss and coarsening of connected Ni particles in the fuel electrode, particularly in the active layer. However, reversible operation mitigates this degradation compared to operation in the electrolysis-only (SOEC-only) mode.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Protonic Ceramics for Energy Storage & Electricity Generation with Ammonia (Final Report)

The commercial product resulting from this R&D project will enable cost-effective synthesis of the Carbon Neutral Liquid Fuel (CNLF) ammonia, a common chemical, at a small scale for energy and industrial applications using only intermittent renewable energy, water, and air as feedstocks. These products are also capable of producing electrical energy from the CNLF in a fuel cell mode of operation. Thus, the eventual commercial product enables both single direction production of either CLNF or electricity, or alternatively functions as a fully reversible, self-contained energy storage device. The renewed interest in developing electrolysis systems is driven, in part, by the burgeoning renewable, solar, and wind industries and the need for an energy conversion and storage technology that can convert intermittent solar and wind energy into the production of hydrogen. Electrolysis systems integrated into both distributed and central renewable power plants would utilize solar and wind energy as their primary power source to produce renewably generated hydrogen for local energy storage or chemical feedstock purposes. Ammonia is an excellent surrogate for hydrogen transportation. NH3 presents an attractive alternative to hydrogen as a working fluid in reversible devices towards a sustainable green energy-oriented future. Ammonia can be easily liquefied at room temperature at about 8 bar or at -33°C at ambient pressure. In contrast, the liquefaction temperature of hydrogen is -253°C at ambient pressure. NH3 has a significantly higher volumetric energy density (12.7 MJ/L) than compressed hydrogen (4.5 MJ/L at ~70 MPa) or liquefied hydrogen (8.5 MJ/L). Additionally, ammonia is a widely used raw material for agriculture fertilizer and thus has well-established storage, transport, and handling processes (about 180 million tons of ammonia are produced annually). Techno-economic analysis suggests ammonia is the least expensive fuel among hydrogen, gasoline, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and methanol.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2023

A reversible perovskite air electrode for active and durable oxygen reduction and evolution reactions via the A-site entropy engineering

The performance of reversible solid oxide electrochemical cells (R-SOECs) is largely hindered by the insufficient electroactivity and poor durability of the bifunctional air electrodes, where the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR and OER) occur. Here, we report our findings in boosting the electrochemical activity and durability of an air electrode with Pr 0.2 Ba 0.2 Sr 0.2 La 0.2 Ca 0.2 CoO 3-δ (PBSLCC) via an A-site entropy engineering. The PBSLCC electrode shows enhanced oxygen reaction activity and excellent durability compared to binary and ternary double perovskites (PrBaCo 2 O 5+δ and Pr 0.8 Ba 0.8 Ca 0.4 Co 2 O 5+δ , respectively). A low and nearly unchanged area-specific resistance of 0.042Ωcm 2 is achieved at 750 °C during the 225-h stability test. La 0.9 Sr 0.1 Ga 0.8 Mg 0.2 O 3-δ electrolyte-supported cells with the PBSLCC air electrode show remarkable performance at 800 °C, demonstrating a peak power density of 1.2Wcm -2 in the fuel cell mode, and a current density of -1.1 Acm -2 at 1.3 V in the electrolysis mode while maintaining the excellent cycling durability of 228 h at ±0.5 Acm -2 under humidified H 2 (10% H 2 O). A bulk oxygen p-band center model is applied to verify that tailoring of the A-site entropy strongly influences the surface exchange coefficients (k* chem ), leading to higher oxygen reaction activity of PBSLCC than the binary and ternary perovskites. Finally, this study opens a new class of high-entropy perovskites for the rational design of air electrodes for R-SOECs with high activity and durability.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Cost analysis of alternative large-scale high-temperature solid oxide electrolysis hydrogen production facilities

We extend our past cost analysis of gigawatt-scale solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) facilities that produce high purity hydrogen gas from water by estimating construction and operating costs for three new alternative design cases: (1) offsite feed steam generation; (2) near-atmospheric pressure (NAP) stack; and (3) onsite electric boiler feed steam generation. Pressure effects on hydrogen electrode-(cathode-)supported SOE cell (SOEC) stack performance are estimated for the same assumed cell and stack construction and used to determine facility-wide stack capital costs for achieving a fixed H2 production at different pressures. Modular balance of plant (BOP) process equipment capital costs are estimated for each new alternative design case using our past equipment sizing, design, and cost data and scaling relationships. Furthermore, we update BOP equipment sizing and design for the NAP case using Aspen®. Vendor quotes for electric boilers are used to estimate costs for the electric boiler design case. Factory and onsite assembly and installation costs for SOEC stacks and BOP equipment are calculated using our past simplified first-principles approach. First-of-a-kind (FOAK) and N th -of-a-kind (NOAK) production maturity cost estimates are included for all results. The case with NAP stacks offers the lowest facility total capital cost (TCC, ~23% lower than base) while use of small electric boilers requires the highest TCC (~3% higher than base). H 2 production prices decrease from the base of ~$\$2.17$ /kgH 2 to ~$\$1.92$/kgH 2 for 1 GW e DC SIP facilities utilizing NAP stacks supplied by offsites steam situated in large modules and blocks for $\$0.030$/kWh e and $0.009/kWh t prices for electricity and thermal energy, respectively. We report all costs in 2021 US dollars.

Balance of plant (BOP) process equipment↗
DOE OSTI2022

Developing a low-cost renewable supply of hydrogen with high-temperature electrochemistry

Abstract Producing inexpensive hydrogen using electricity to split water or to extract hydrogen from hydrocarbon compounds is a two-sided coin: one side is obtaining and exploiting low-cost, emissions-free energy sources while the opposite side is establishing low-cost robust, durable, and efficient materials for the conversion processes. This article explores the materials needed for water splitting electrolysis, electrochemical abstraction of hydrogen from light alkanes, and looping thermal-chemical reaction processes that typically form and then dissociate an acid compound in a two- or three-step process. The focus is on the R&D needs of materials that are used for high-temperature electrochemistry, focusing on solid-oxide, ion-conducting cell materials sets (SOECs). To exploit the availability of low-cost electricity, these materials must stand up to cyclic operations. They also must be durable for years of service to reduce operating and maintenance costs, and they must achieve high conversion efficiencies to avoid large, energy-intensive recycle loops. Graphical abstract

Boardman, Richard D.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Cost analysis of hydrogen production by high-temperature solid oxide electrolysis

In this study, we estimate construction and operation costs of gigawatt-scale solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) facilities for producing high purity hydrogen gas from water. Manufacturing and assembly costs for two types of SOE cell stacks are estimated using a detailed design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA®) analysis. Modular balance of plant (BOP) process equipment is designed and sized with Aspen®, and cost estimated using equipment vendor quotes. Factory and on-site assembly and installation costs for SOEC stack and BOP equipment integration into modular SOE process units are calculated using a simplified DFMA® method. Total stack costs on a stack input power (SIP) basis reduce to <$100/kW e DC SIP for >500 MW e DC SIP /year production rates with electrode cermet, interconnects, and high-temperature heat treatments dominating the total cost. Integration of stacks with larger BOP equipment operating at higher pressures offers ~36% cost reduction in total facility capital cost due to an economies of physical scale effect since BOP equipment comprises >50% of facility costs. Optimized H 2 prices decrease from ~$\$$4/kgH 2 to ~$\$$2/kgH 2 for 1 GWe DCSIP facilities using $\$$0.025/kWh electricity price. All costs are reported in 2021 US dollars.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2022

Scalable High-H 2 Flux, Robust Thin Film Solid Oxide Electrolyzer

This project was aimed at the development of proton-conducting SOEC (P-SOEC) technology that has the potential to meet key DOE H 2 production targets. A decreased proton resistance of the electrolyte and Faradaic efficiency improvements were sought to increase the fraction of consumed electrolysis power that is used to actually generate H 2 , while simultaneously decreasing cost dramatically. Moreover, the development project was intended to yield maximum durability through the use of a steam protective layer. Furthermore, sputtering was used to overcome processing challenges that have hampered P-SOEC development, while the low-temperature operation goal of 500 °C was expected to aid in mitigating thermally activated long-term degradation. The approach to high-performance, lower-temperature SOECs leveraged our existing SOFC Ni-cermet anode support and extensive thin-film sputtering layer-deposition experience. Rather than an all-in-one, reversible fuel cell approach which has many unacceptable tradeoffs, we focused on the many benefits to hydrogen generating SOECs, including the existence of synergies for reduced manufacturing costs (e.g., SOECs and SOFCs share supporting layers and overall manufacturing processing). The end result of this project was expected to increase current performance at 500 °C from approximately 0.8 A/cm 2 (at 60% Faradaic efficiency) at 1.4 V to > 1 A/cm 2 (at > 95% Faradaic efficiency) with a > 40% reduction in system cost and to enable operation of P-SOECs in steam contents >> 20% for a goal of a > 40,000 hours lifetime. To enable 500 °C operation in a very high steam atmosphere (> 20%), we proposed the use of a sputtered dense thin film (~0.1-1 µm thick) of high-stability Ba(Zr,Y)O 3 (BZY) to protect the Ba(Ce,Zr,Y,Yb)O 3 (BCZYYb) electrolyte. The BZCYYb, in turn, blocks the hole conductivity of the BZY to boost Faradaic efficiency. As FE increases, more of the consumed electricity is used in electrolysis to generate H 2 , rather than being shunted. Additionally, as cell resistance decreases, the voltage required to maintain current decreases, as well as the power required to generate the same amount of H 2 . With the proposed enhancements, these two factors result in the final 46% decrease in power needed to run the system. Likewise, a production rate of 50,000 kg H 2 /day will require 55% less active area, such that a system will need only 650 cells for an 80 cm 2 active area instead of ~1,440. Taking the 2016 DOE projected current cost and modifying the electricity cost and linearly scaling the other costs (except thermal feedstock) based on the cell area improvement, results in a 44% decrease in lifetime system cost, or a decrease from $\$$4.95/kg H 2 to $\$$2.75/kg H 2 . This is well below the 2018 DOE target of $\$$4/kg H 2 . The results from this project showed that we can create a P-SOEC with enhanced steam stability using two different electrolytes (i.e., one on top of the other) and achieve sufficiently low area specific resistance (ASR) to achieve the target performance. Unfortunately, due to extended delays at the beginning of the project and related supply chain and equipment access issues, we were not able to completely show increased Faradaic efficiency for the P-SOEC and therefore were unable to demonstrate the full proof of concept within the first budget period budget. While there are still challenges that remain to be solved, significant progress was made during this project and the concept still has merit that warrants further development.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2021

Cascade CO 2 electroreduction enables efficient carbonate-free production of ethylene

CO 2 electroreduction provides a route to convert waste emissions into chemicals such as ethylene (C 2 H 4 ). However, the direct transformation of CO 2 -to-C 2 H 4 suffers from CO 2 loss to carbonate, consuming up to 72% of energy input. A cascade approach—coupling a solid-oxide CO 2 -to-CO electrochemical cell (SOEC) with a CO-to-C 2 H 4 membrane electrode assembly (MEA)—would eliminate CO 2 loss to carbonate. However, this approach requires a CO-to-C 2 H 4 MEA with energy efficiency well beyond demonstrations to date. Focusing on the MEA, in this study we find that an N-tolyl substituted tetrahydro-bipyridine film improves the stabilization of key reaction intermediates, while an SSC ionomer enhances CO transport to the Cu surface, enabling a C 2 H 4 faradaic efficiency of 65% at 150 mA cm –2 for 110 h. Demonstrating a cascade SOEC-MEA approach, we achieve CO 2 -to-C 2 H 4 with a ~48% reduction in energy intensity compared with the direct route. We further reduce the energy intensity by coupling CO electroreduction (CORR) with glucose electrooxidation.

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nonlinear model predictive control for mode‐switching operation of reversible solid oxide cell systems

Abstract Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are a promising dual‐mode technology for the production of hydrogen through high‐temperature water electrolysis, and the generation of power through a fuel cell reaction that consumes hydrogen. Switching between these two modes as the price of electricity fluctuates requires reversible SOC operation and accurate tracking of hydrogen and power production set points. Moreover, a well‐functioning control system is important to avoid cell degradation during mode‐switching operation. In this article, we apply nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) to an SOC module and supporting equipment and compare NMPC performance to classical proportional‐integral (PI) control strategies, while switching between the modes of hydrogen and power production. While both control methods provide similar performance across various metrics during mode switching, NMPC demonstrates a significant advantage in reducing cell thermal gradients and curvatures (mixed spatial‐temporal partial derivatives), thereby helping to mitigate long‐term degradation.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of Stable Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells for Low-Cost Hydrogen Production

The project objective was to demonstrate a solid oxide cell-based steam electrolysis stack that exhibits robustness, reliability, endurance, hydrogen purity, and produces hydrogen at elevated pressure of 2 to 3 bar. Innovative materials and processing methods were evaluated to improve degradation characteristics. Performance improvement focused on nearly all layers involved in the cell and stack assembly. Primary attention was paid to zirconia-ceria interface resistance control via sintering optimization and decrease in degradation from the oxygen electrode by evaluating low strontium (Sr) or Sr-free composition for both the oxygen electrode and current collection layer. Stack robustness was addressed by validating redox tolerance of fuel electrode, confirming capability of cells to survive repeated thermal cycles, studying the effect of pressure on performance and degradation, evaluating the effect of contamination on fuel and oxygen electrode performance and degradation, and identifying mitigation strategies to improve performance. The characterization included evaluation of electrochemical performance and stability followed by microstructural analysis. At the cell level, performance and stability improvements were achieved by incorporating a Sr-free oxygen electrode and a denser oxygen electrode barrier layer. At the stack level, pressurized operation reduces demand on first stage compression, the redox tolerant fuel electrode mitigates risk from service interruptions, and improvements to interconnect coating alleviate chromium (Cr) contamination effects. The denser barrier layer was achieved by adding a sintering aid to the samaria-doped ceria (SDC) composition that reduced sintering temperature by 150 °C. The resulting density was on par with the baseline SDC barrier layer density and the lower sintering temperature resulted in less resistive phase formation during sintering. Button cell tests did not demonstrate a change in performance when exposed to silicon (Si) or manganese (Mn) impurities to the fuel electrode and Cr impurity to the oxygen electrode. More detailed study however is warranted. The project addressed SOEC performance and stability at the cell and stack levels through a systematic approach to known sources of degradation that were combined and tested in three stack tests using an electrolyte supported cell design to allow for evaluation of a variety of fuel and oxygen electrode compositions. STK-82 and STK-83 had identical compositions. STK-100 incorporated the best materials and processing variables developed under this and concurrent projects, and was tested at elevated pressure in steam electrolysis. • STK-82 recovered performance after redox and thermal cycling, demonstrating the robustness of the stack and seals. It exhibited stable performance in testing for 500 hours in SOEC mode, followed by 300 hours of cycling between SOEC and SOFC tests. Degradation during SOEC operation was 1.8 %/ 1,000 hours. • STK-83 generated hydrogen at >80% steam conversion, and oxygen above 98.5 % purity during pressurized operation. Both hydrogen and oxygen were generated at 3 barg pressure without the use of a pressure vessel. In addition to balanced pressure, electrolysis operation at 1 bar differential pressure across anode and cathode was also demonstrated to substantial the robustness of the cell and seal. • STK-100 measured at initial ambient pressure conditions showed an area specific resistance of 1.1 ohm-cm 2 , and STK-83 had 1.3 ohm-cm 2 .

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2022

Leak test for solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide electrolysis cells

A simple, fast, and economical alcohol penetration method for assessing the solid oxide cell to metal window frame seal in a typical planar design is presented. An alcohol such as ethanol or isopropanol is placed into the cavity of a cell sealed to the window frame. Within 3–5 min, one can determine if the glass seal is hermetic by visual observation along the seal edges on the side of the sealed frame. Cross bubbling and open circuit voltage methods for determining whether the seal failed or cracked at high temperature after final stack firing are also discussed.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

(Invited) Utilization of Bio-CO 2 and Bio-Methane for Fuel Production: Integration Solid Oxide Electrolyzer, Low Energy Plasma Reformer with Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

Transition to renewable energy is essential to achieve climate protection objectives. Besides storing electricity for later use, fuel production using renewable energy is an essential part of reducing fossil dependance. The highest value application in current markets is the production of liquid transportation fuels such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) from sustainable, ideally biogenic carbon resources. A system is presented for processing anaerobic digester gas for liquid hydrocarbon production. Bio-CO 2 is processed through a solid oxide electrolysis cell and bio-CH 4 through a low energy plasma reformer. The combined synthesis gas is supplied to a Fischer-Tropsch reactor for the production of liquid hydrocarbons. The combination of technologies nearly doubles the yield of biofuel by utilizing the bio-CO 2 in addition to the bio-CH 4 . Here, the product fuel is all bio-carbon but it also embodies renewable electric energy in a high-value, storable and transportable liquid hydrocarbon.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Multifunctional Isostructural Bilayer Oxygen Evolution Electrode for Durable Intermediate-Temperature Electrochemical Water Splitting

The overarching goal of the proposed research is to address SOEC’s degradation problem by advancing a new isostructural highly electrocatalytically active bilayer oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrode, consisting of a LSCF (La 1-x Sr x Co 1-y Fe y O 3-δ ) core and a SCT (SrCo 0.9 Ta 0.1 O 3-δ ) shell, to achieve high and sustainable rate of oxygen evolution matching operating current densities without encountering delamination. To realize this goal, the project has adopted a combined experimental and theoretical approach to conduct research in the following six areas closely associated with SOPO tasks: 1) Development of electrocatalytically active bilayer oxygen electrodes (SOPO task-1) 2) Development of new symmetric three electrode cell (STEC) methodology to extract electrokinetic data of oxygen electrodes (SOPO task-2) 3) Quantification of electrokinetics of bilayer oxygen electrodes and correlation with degradation and delamination (SOPO task-2) 4) Performances of bilayer oxygen electrodes under fuel cells and electrolyzers modes (SOPO task-3) 5) Microscale modeling of oxygen electrode/electrolyte interface in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOPO task-4) 6) Prediction of crack growth rate at oxygen electrode/electrolyte interface in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOPO task-4)

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2023

Foundational Low-Carbon Hydrogen Research

HydroGEN is a multi-lab consortium focused on early-stage R&D in H2 production, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO). The consortium advances research and development (R&D) of innovative materials for advanced water splitting (AWS) technologies to enable clean, sustainable and low-cost ($1/kg H2) hydrogen production and fosters cross-cutting innovation using theory-guided applied materials R&D to advance all emerging water-splitting pathways for hydrogen production. HydroGEN is focused on low technology readiness level AWS technologies, including low- (alkaline exchanged membrane electrolysis) and high-temperature electrolysis (proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis), photoelectrochecmical (PEC) and solar thermochemical (STCH) water splitting. This presentation will provide an overview of the HydroGEN EMN, its relationship to the H2NEW consortium, technical highlights of a few lab-led R&D projects, and the community appproach to benchmarking and protocol development for advanced water splitting technologies. Low-carbon hydrogen plays a vital role in the carbon dioxide utilization and decarbonization of several chemical and fuel industries.

advanced water splitting materials AEM↗
DOE OSTI2023

Boosting the performance of reversible solid oxide electrochemical cells with a novel hybrid oxygen electrode, Pr 1.39 Ba 0.14 Sr 0.53 Co 1.48 Fe 0.76 O 6- δ -Ba 0.66 Sr 0.34 CoO 3- δ

Solid oxide electrochemical cells (SOECs) stand out as a highly promising clean energy technology that offers several benefits, showing significant potential to play a pivotal role in the transition towards a sustainable and low-carbon energy future. SOECs can efficiently convert the chemical energy stored in fuels to electricity in fuel cell mode, and produce various chemicals from abundant feedstocks (e.g., CO 2 , H 2 O) and intermittent solar/wind-based renewable electricity. Despite extensive efforts that have been devoted to designing novel materials and optimizing SOEC manufacturing processes, aiming to achieve enhanced energy efficiency, the current SOECs still suffer from poor performance, which is mainly due to the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics. To address this challenge, in this work, we have successfully designed an in situ formed hybrid oxygen electrode material (Pr 1.39 Ba 0.14 Sr 0.53 Co 1.48 Fe 0.76 O 6- δ -Ba 0.66 Sr 0.34 CoO 3- δ ), which significantly improves the surface oxygen exchange coefficient and bulk oxygen-ion diffusion coefficient, enhancing the OER and ORR electrocatalytic activities. Further, the SOECs equipped with this newly developed oxygen electrode achieved exceptional performance for power generation using both hydrogen and propane as the fuels. At 750 °C, a peak power density of 2.4 W cm -2 was obtained with H 2 as the fuel. Additionally, the SOECs attain unprecedented performance in steam electrolysis mode. A current density of 4.4 A cm -2 was achieved at 1.3 V and 750 °C, which represents the highest performance among all yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte-based SOECs. The SOECs also deliver remarkable stability during the accelerated stability testing, highlighting the great potential of Pr 1.39 Ba 0.14 Sr 0.53 Co 1.48 Fe 0.76 O 6- δ -Ba 0.66 Sr 0.34 CoO 3- δ as a high-performance oxygen electrode for next generation SOECs.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2023

Dynamic oxidation of (Mn,Co) 3 O 4 -Coated interconnects for solid oxide electrolysis cells

Solid oxide electrolysis cell stacks are expected to experience dynamic conditions when using renewable electricity derived from wind or solar power. To address this scenario, (Mn,Co) 3 O 4 (MCO)-coated Crofer 22 APU interconnect coupons are subjected to thermal cycling, and intermittent current density, with gas compositions relevant to high-temperature electrolysis (elevated steam:hydrogen ratio and oxygen content). Defects are also intentionally introduced in the MCO coating, to assess whether the difference in oxidation properties of the adjacent coated and uncoated (defective) surfaces causes sufficient stress to damage the protective oxide scale. Specimens with defects are subjected to oxidation for 1000 h at 800 °C, or thermal cycling. Before thermal cycling, some specimens are pre-oxidized to create a thick oxide scale to mimic the scale thickness expected after ~30 kh operation. In all cases, the coating and oxide scale remain well adhered with no cracking observed. Area-specific resistance (ASR) is monitored in both single-atmosphere and dual-atmosphere conditions, and the ASR is stable and is not impacted by dynamic cycling of the current density. Finally, this work provides confidence that the MCO coated interconnect will function as needed in dynamic operation conditions, even with coating defects.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2023

HydroGEN Overview: A Consortium on Advanced Water Splitting Materials

HydroGEN is a multi-lab consortium focused on early-stage R&D in H2 production, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO). The consortium advances research and development (R&D) of innovative materials for advanced water splitting (AWS) technologies to enable clean, sustainable and low-cost ($1/kg H2) hydrogen production and fosters cross-cutting innovation using theory-guided applied materials R&D to advance all emerging water-splitting pathways for hydrogen production. HydroGEN is focused on low technology readiness level AWS technologies, including low- (alkaline exchanged membrane electrolysis) and high-temperature electrolysis (proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis), photoelectrochecmical (PEC) and solar thermochemical (STCH) water splitting. This presentation will provide an overview of the HydroGEN EMN and technical highlights of a few lab-led and FOA-awarded R&D projects. HydroGEN continues to grow its community of industry, university, and national laboratories, forming a national innovation ecosystem focused on renewable hydrogen production.

advanced water splitting materials↗