ISO/NP 26621

Fine ceramics (advanced ceramics, advanced technical ceramics) — Polarization test method for materials of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC)

Scope

This standard specifies test specimens, test equipment, and test methods for evaluating the single-cell polarization of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC), with the purpose of evaluating the performance of electrode materials, electrolyte materials, and their interfaces. The electrolyte is presumed to be oxide-ion-conductive ceramics in the electrolytic domain where the transference number of oxide ion exceeds 0.99.
The polarization test method includes direct current versus potential measurements along with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and current interruption techniques, which are used to break down the polarization into ohmic losses and electrode overpotentials, and further into specific causes of the overpotentials.
The tests are intended to be conducted with small disk-shaped cells often referred to as “button cells”, and they do not evaluate the performance of single cells designed by the supplier to be incorporated into cell-stacks used in hot units of SOFC/SOEC systems. The performance test of the cell/stack assembly units integrated with peripheral components, such as current collectors and gas manifolds, shall refer to IEC 62282-7-2 or IEC 62282-8-101.
This standard is intended to serve as a guideline for appropriately conducting the performance tests implemented in the development of the materials, the development of single cells, the development of their manufacturing methods, and in commercial transactions involving these materials and technologies of single cells. It also aims to ensure the acquisition of data necessary for research on electrode materials. This standard does not provide guidance on the interpretation of data.
This document assumes that the sample specimens provided for testing are configured to function as a single cell of SOFC or SOEC and are tested under the conditions of their operations. However, the measurement methods specified in this standard and in its Annex are also applicable to tests where only one side of the electrode material or its interface is the subject of the evaluation. In such cases, the descriptions regarding the material and gas supply, etc. of the opposite electrode side can be appropriately adapted and used.