Oxide cathodes structures

The MCFC membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprises three layers a porous lithiated NiO cathode structure and a porous Ni/NiCr alloy anode structure, sandwiching an electrolyte matrix (see detail below). To a first approximation, the porous, p-type semiconductor, nickel oxide cathode structure is compatible with the air oxidant, and a good enough electrical conductor. The nickel anode structure, coated with a granular proprietary reform reaction catalyst, is compatible with natural gas fuel and reforming steam, and is an excellent electrical conductor. As usual, the oxygen is the actual cathode and the fuel the anode. Hence the phrase porous electrode structure . 

Figure 1. Schematic description of a (lithium ion) rocking-chair cell that employs graphitic carbon as anode and transition metal oxide as cathode. The undergoing electrochemical process is lithium ion deintercalation from the graphene structure of the anode and simultaneous intercalation into the layered structure of the metal oxide cathode. For the cell, this process is discharge, since the reaction is spontaneous.

While XAS techniques focus on direct characterizations of the host electrode structure, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is used to probe local chemical environments via the interactions of insertion cations that are NMR-active nuclei, for example lithium-6 or -7, within the insertion electrode. As with XAS, NMR techniques are element specific (and nuclear specific) and do not require any long-range structural order in the host material for analysis. Solid-state NMR methods are now routinely employed to characterize the various chemical components of Li ion batteries metal oxide cathodes, Li ion-conducting electrolytes, and carbonaceous anodes.Coupled to controlled electrochemical in-sertion/deinsertion of the NMR-active cations, the... 

Flat AIN films were fabricated into gated cathode structures [15]. The films included thin AIN on SiC and a graded layer with a concentration graded from GaN to nearly 100% AIN at the surface. The structures employed an oxide spacer layer and an Al film on the oxide served as the grid electrode. The results for both structures were similar. Devices worked for a few minutes, but they exhibited grid currents ranging from 10 to 1000 times the collector current. These preliminary measurements suggest that further materials research on the surfaces of nitrides may lead to room temperature electron emitter structures. 

In a 1999 letter to Nature (Perry Murray etal., 1999), from North Western University, Illinois, the authors record the first laboratory achievement of useful oxidation rates for direct methane electrochemical oxidation, using an IT/SOFC. The cathode structures were porous lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) on porous ( 203)0.15 (Ce02)o,85 or YDC. The anodes were cermets, porous YSZ with nickel in the pores. The laboratory operating temperatures were in the range 500-700 °C. The account of the North Western work, reporting on new anode types, continues on pp. 921-924 of Williams (2002). 

Fig. 5 Schematic cross section of the simplified planar anode-electrode-cathode structure of two typical fuel cells a polymer-electrolyte membrane fuel ceU and b solid oxide fuel cell. See Color Plates...

Formation mechanism of SEI layers on cathodes in Li-ion batteries, their thermal and electrochemical stabihty, and their roles in affecting the cycle life and safety characteristics are well documented by many researchers [43 6]. Here we present some recent data on identifying the surface layer generation and their composition on transition metal oxide cathodes like spinel and layered materials by various spectroscopic techniques. The structural changes and the reaction at the surface during the first delithiation process in Li-rich layered material are explained. The effects of additives and coatings on electrode materials to their electrochemical performance are also discussed at the end. 

The conducting polymer is roughly 1000 times more conductive than the traditionally used manganese dioxide cathode material and it penetrates more effectively into the porous metal-oxide anode structures, creating more robust capacitor structures. 

The conventional production-type oxide cathode consists of a coating of barium and strontium oxides on a base metal such as nickel. Nickel alloys, in general, are stronger, tougher, and harder than most nonferrous alloys and many steels. The most important property of nickel alloys is their abihty to retain strength and toughness at elevated temperatures. The oxide layer is formed by first coating a nickel structure (a can or disc) with a mixture of barium and strontium carbonates, suspended in a binder material. The mixture is approximately 60% barium carbonate and 40% strontium carbonate. 

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