The development of efficient and sustainable energy conversion technologies is a crucial area of research in today's world. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional combustion-based energy conversion systems due to their high efficiency, low emissions, and fuel flexibility. However, the practical application of SOFCs is still limited due to their high cost and relatively short lifespan, which are primarily attributed to the degradation of their electrodes.

 To overcome this challenge, a team of Korean researchers at Incheon National University delved into the development of nanostructured electrodes for SOFCs using the cation diffusion-determined exsolution mechanism. This process involves the growth of nanoparticles on oxides through exsolution, where the nanoparticles are exsolved from the bulk oxide material through an electrochemical process.

 Although in-situ exsolution has been considered a promising strategy for achieving highly active and stable catalysts, the underlying mechanism of particle growth has not been fully understood. However, the researchers' work sheds light on this process by observing the slower cation diffusion rate during exsolution compared to the cation reduction rate. They then used Fick's diffusion laws to model the growth rate of exsolved particles and optimize electrode materials, enabling them to overcome the cation diffusion limitation through electrochemical reduction.

 The resulting SOFC with nanostructured electrodes displayed high durability and 2-fold higher maximum power densities compared to cells with non-exsolved electrodes. This achievement is a significant step forward in the development of SOFCs and provides guidelines for understanding exsolution phenomena and developing nano-catalysts for energy conversion.

 Lead researcher Professor Myung expressed optimism about the research's potential impact, saying, "We expect this research to provide insights into finding new routes to optimize exsolution materials." The study was published in the scientific journal 'Advanced Materials' in January and represents a significant contribution to the field of energy conversion research. The researchers' work paves the way for future research that could lead to more efficient and sustainable energy conversion technologies, which are critical for a sustainable future.

An exsolution modeling-based study for improving the catalytic activity of electrode

[Reference] Kim Y. H. et al., (2023) “Exsolution Modeling and Control to Improve the Catalytic Activity of Nanostructured Electrodes” Advanced Materials, 2208984. doi.org/10.1002/adma.202208984

[Main Author] Jae-ha Myung (Incheon National University), Yo Han Kim (Incheon National University)

* Contact email : mjaeha@inu.ac.kr (Professor Jae-ha Myung)

                                   unidao3678@gmail.com (Yo Han Kim)