Designing a miniaturised heated stage for in situ optical measurements of solid oxide fuel cell electrode surfaces, and probing the oxidation of solid oxide fuel cell anodes using in situ Raman spectroscopy

Brightman, E.; Maher, R.; Offer, G. J.; Duboviks, V.; Heck, C.; Cohen, L. F.; Brandon, N. P.

Designing a miniaturised heated stage for in situ optical measurements of solid oxide fuel cell electrode surfaces, and probing the oxidation of solid oxide fuel cell anodes using in situ Raman spectroscopy

Type

Article

Authors

Brightman, E.
Maher, R.
Offer, G. J.
Duboviks, V.
Heck, C.
Cohen, L. F.
Brandon, N. P.

KAUST Grant Number

KUK-F1-020-21

Online Publication Date

2012-05-22

Print Publication Date

2012-05

Date

2012-05-22

Abstract

A novel miniaturised heated stage for in operando optical measurements on solid oxide fuel cell electrode surfaces is described. The design combines the advantages of previously reported designs, namely, (i) fully controllable dual atmosphere operation enabling fuel cell pellets to be tested in operando with either electrode in any atmosphere being the focus of study, and (ii) combined electrochemical measurements with optical spectroscopy measurements with the potential for highly detailed study of electrochemical processes; with the following advances, (iii) integrated fitting for mounting on a mapping stage enabling 2-D spatial characterisation of the surface, (iv) a compact profile that is externally cooled, enabling operation on an existing microscope without the need for specialized lenses, (v) the ability to cool very rapidly, from 600 °C to 300 °C in less than 5 min without damaging the experimental apparatus, and (vi) the ability to accommodate a range of pellet sizes and thicknesses. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.

Citation

Brightman E, Maher R, Offer GJ, Duboviks V, Heck C, et al. (2012) Designing a miniaturised heated stage for in situ optical measurements of solid oxide fuel cell electrode surfaces, and probing the oxidation of solid oxide fuel cell anodes using in situ Raman spectroscopy. Review of Scientific Instruments 83: 053707. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4719955.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (U.K.) (EPSRC(GB)) for funding, in particular the Supergen fuel cell programme and a Career Acceleration Fellowship for Gregory Offer, and Stephen Cussell in the engineering workshop of the Department of Physics. This publication was also based on work supported by Award No KUK-F1-020-21, made by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).