Impedance analysis of electrolyte processes in a solid oxide cell

Abstract Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and the distribution of relaxation times are powerful tools to study polarization processes in solid oxide cells (SOC). Commonly the measured polarization resistance is solely attributed to polarization phenomena in the electrodes whereas the electrolyte is assumed to act as purely ohmic series resistance. In this study an electrolyte supported SOC is investigated by impedance spectroscopy from the nominal operating temperature range of 700–900°C down to temperatures as low as 350°C. At such low temperatures the dielectric polarization of the electrolyte is shifted into the accessible frequency range, providing access to additional processes which are deconvoluted and quantified. It is discussed to which extent the additional layers like gadolinia doped ceria diffusion barrier and electrode layers influence the electrolyte processes as grain and grain boundary.