SIR Physics Investigation Abstract
CATHODE COATING USING THE ELECTROSTATIC SPRAY DEPOSITION MECHANISM
Presenter:
Brittany Rucker, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Advisor:
Dr. Herek Clack, Illinois Institute of Technology
Abstract:
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are considered the most promising fuel cells. They are expected to be at least fifty to sixty percent efficient at converting fuel to electricity and can be used in large high-powered applications. SOFCs are mainly composed of an anode, cathode, and an electrolyte. All three components greatly determine how well the fuel cell will perform. My research involves using a new technique, Electrostatic Spray Deposition to improve the coating of the cathode layer. The Electrostatic Spray Deposition (ESD) technique is being researched in many fields including agriculture and environmental engineering. The ESD technique uses high voltage to suspend fine droplets of the cathode solution on the cathode substrate. In this research, ESD was used to "ideally" coat cathode substrates.
The parameters of the ESD set-up were manipulated to develop an "ideal" thin and uniformly porous coating of the cathode. Before conducting the actual research, runs to test the affects of manipulating the process parameters were conducted with a sample solution and a sample cathode substrate. Parameters include flow rate of the solution, voltage applied to needle, needle distance, and temperature of substrate. Based on the data obtained from the parameter test runs, the actual research runs were conducted using .70 grams of strontium-doped lanthanum manganate (LSM) suspended in 50 milliliters of alpha-terpineol (C10H18O) using the ball milling technique. The alpha-terpineol in LSM solution was sprayed onto the cathode substrate using ESD at a temperature range of 150-190 degrees Celsius. Substrates of the tests were then observed using a scanning electron microscope to observe the surface morphology to predict the best process parameters for usage to coat the cathode substrate of solid oxide fuel cells.