Mechanism of oxygen electrode delamination in solid oxide electrolyzer cells

An electrochemical model for degradation of solid oxide electrolyzer cells is presented. The model is based on concepts in local thermodynamic equilibrium in systems otherwise in global thermodynamic non-equilibrium. It is shown that electronic conduction through the electrolyte, however small, must be taken into account for determining local oxygen chemical potential, μ O 2 , within the electrolyte. The μ O 2 within the electrolyte may lie out of bounds in relation to values at the electrodes in the electrolyzer mode. Under certain conditions, high pressures can develop in the electrolyte just near the oxygen electrode/electrolyte interface, leading to oxygen electrode delamination. These predictions are in accord with the reported literature on the subject. Development of high pressures may be avoided by introducing some electronic conduction in the electrolyte.