Chemical composition and microstructure determine the electrochemical performance characteristics of mixed ionic-electronic conducting (MIEC) cathodes. This work focuses on the performance simulation and evaluation of porous LSCF cathodes with the same nominal chemical composition, but with microstructures differing in grain size, porosity and tortuosity. A numerical tool is presented, which mimics the sintering process, thus generating realistic (synthetic) 3D microstructures.  This tool was validated by comparing microstructure parameters of the generated structures with those derived from “real” cathodes, reconstructed via FIB-tomography.

Together with adequate performance models [1, 2], this approach allows to decouple the influence of material composition and microstructure on performance. It enables us to analyze microstructure development at different sintering parameters (temperature or time). Thus, this tool provides guidelines for designing high-performance cathodes (e.g., ideal material fractions, cathode thickness, etc.).

References

[1] T. Carraro, J. Joos, B. Rüger, A. Weber, E. Ivers-Tiffée, Electrochim. Acta 77, p. 315 (2012)

[2] S. Adler, J. Lane, B. Steele, J. Electrochem. Soc. 143, p. 3554 (1996)