Stanford University will identify correlations between performance and the microscopic surface properties of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) active sites in state-of-the-art solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathodes, quantified using novel in situ spectroscopy, scattering, and microscopy techniques, while the electrochemical reactions take place under SOFC operating conditions. In particular, the characteristics of active sites that display high electrochemical activity will be identified. This fundamental knowledge will be used to rationally engineer electrode surfaces in both idealized and, later, porous lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF) and similar cathodes. Finally, the effort will optimize and validate the electrode modification strategies using button-cell SOFCs. 

This project relies on using three new approaches to measure cathode surface characteristics in situ: (1) X-ray spectroscopy, (2) X-ray diffraction, and (3) transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The team will utilize two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science user facilities: the Advanced Light Source (ALS) facility at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) facility (a directorate of SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory operated by Stanford University) to carry out in situ X-ray experiments. A Sandia Laboratories field work proposal, FWP-12-15990 supports this work.