IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v15y2024i1d10.1038_s41467-024-53014-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Direct observation of space-charge-induced electric fields at oxide grain boundaries

Author

Listed:
  • Satoko Toyama

    (The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16, Yayoi Bunkyo)

  • Takehito Seki

    (The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16, Yayoi Bunkyo
    Japan Science and Technology Agency)

  • Bin Feng

    (The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16, Yayoi Bunkyo
    Japan Science and Technology Agency
    The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16, Yayoi Bunkyo)

  • Yuichi Ikuhara

    (The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16, Yayoi Bunkyo
    The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16, Yayoi Bunkyo
    Japan Fine Ceramics Center, 2-4-1 Mutsuno)

  • Naoya Shibata

    (The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16, Yayoi Bunkyo
    Japan Fine Ceramics Center, 2-4-1 Mutsuno
    The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1 Bunkyo-ku)

Abstract

Space charge layers (SCLs) formed at grain boundaries (GBs) are considered to critically influence the properties of polycrystalline materials such as ion conductivities. Despite the extensive researches on this issue, the presence of GB SCLs and their relationship with GB orientations, atomic-scale structures and impurity/solute segregation behaviors remain controversial, primarily due to the difficulties in directly observing charge distribution at GBs. In this study, we directly observe electric field distribution across the well-defined yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) GBs by tilt-scan averaged differential phase contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy. Our observation clearly reveals the existence of SCLs across the YSZ GBs with nanometer precision, which are significantly varied depending on the GB orientations and the resultant core atomic structures. Moreover, the magnitude of SCLs show a strong correlation with yttrium segregation amounts. This study provides critical insights into the complex interplay between SCLs, orientations, atomic structures and segregation of GBs in ionic crystals.

Suggested Citation

  • Satoko Toyama & Takehito Seki & Bin Feng & Yuichi Ikuhara & Naoya Shibata, 2024. "Direct observation of space-charge-induced electric fields at oxide grain boundaries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53014-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53014-w
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53014-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-53014-w?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Brian C. H. Steele & Angelika Heinzel, 2001. "Materials for fuel-cell technologies," Nature, Nature, vol. 414(6861), pages 345-352, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Parnian, Mohammad Javad & Rowshanzamir, Soosan & Gashoul, Fatemeh, 2017. "Comprehensive investigation of physicochemical and electrochemical properties of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) membranes with different degrees of sulfonation for proton exchange membrane fuel ," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 614-628.
    2. Sethu Sundar Pethaiah & Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni & Arunkumar Jayakumar & Deepalekshmi Ponnamma & Chandra Sekhar Tiwary & Gangadharan Sasikumar, 2020. "Methanol Electrolysis for Hydrogen Production Using Polymer Electrolyte Membrane: A Mini-Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    3. Xu, Yuan-wu & Wu, Xiao-long & Zhong, Xiao-bo & Zhao, Dong-qi & Sorrentino, Marco & Jiang, Jianhua & Jiang, Chang & Fu, Xiaowei & Li, Xi, 2021. "Mechanism model-based and data-driven approach for the diagnosis of solid oxide fuel cell stack leakage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    4. Gómez, Sergio Yesid & Hotza, Dachamir, 2016. "Current developments in reversible solid oxide fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 155-174.
    5. Saurabh Singh & Raghvendra Pandey & Sabrina Presto & Maria Paola Carpanese & Antonio Barbucci & Massimo Viviani & Prabhakar Singh, 2019. "Suitability of Sm 3+ - Substituted SrTiO 3 as Anode Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: A Correlation between Structural and Electrical Properties," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-16, October.
    6. Vinoth Kumar, R. & Khandale, A.P., 2022. "A review on recent progress and selection of cobalt-based cathode materials for low temperature-solid oxide fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    7. Elmer, Theo & Worall, Mark & Wu, Shenyi & Riffat, Saffa B., 2015. "Fuel cell technology for domestic built environment applications: State of-the-art review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 913-931.
    8. Teixeira, Fátima C. & Teixeira, António P.S. & Rangel, C.M., 2022. "New proton conductive membranes of indazole- and condensed pyrazolebisphosphonic acid-Nafion membranes for PEMFC," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1187-1196.
    9. Jine Wu & Chenyi Liao & Tianyu Li & Jing Zhou & Linjuan Zhang & Jian-Qiang Wang & Guohui Li & Xianfeng Li, 2023. "Metal-coordinated polybenzimidazole membranes with preferential K+ transport," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Al-Fatesh, Ahmed Sadeq & Hanan atia, & Ibrahim, Ahmed Aidid & Fakeeha, Anis Hamza & Singh, Sunit Kumar & Labhsetwar, Nitin K. & Shaikh, Hamid & Qasim, Shamsudeen O., 2019. "CO2 reforming of CH4: Effect of Gd as promoter for Ni supported over MCM-41 as catalyst," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 658-667.
    11. Xia, Zhangxun & Sun, Ruili & Jing, Fenning & Wang, Suli & Sun, Hai & Sun, Gongquan, 2018. "Modeling and optimization of Scaffold-like macroporous electrodes for highly efficient direct methanol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 239-248.
    12. Ortiz-Vitoriano, N. & Bernuy-López, C. & Ruiz de Larramendi, I. & Knibbe, R. & Thydén, K. & Hauch, A. & Holtappels, P. & Rojo, T., 2013. "Optimizing solid oxide fuel cell cathode processing route for intermediate temperature operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 984-991.
    13. Dong Jin Ham & Jae Sung Lee, 2009. "Transition Metal Carbides and Nitrides as Electrode Materials for Low Temperature Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 2(4), pages 1-27, October.
    14. Baroutaji, Ahmad & Wilberforce, Tabbi & Ramadan, Mohamad & Olabi, Abdul Ghani, 2019. "Comprehensive investigation on hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the aviation and aerospace sectors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 31-40.
    15. Carton, J.G. & Olabi, A.G., 2017. "Three-dimensional proton exchange membrane fuel cell model: Comparison of double channel and open pore cellular foam flow plates," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 185-195.
    16. McLarty, Dustin & Brouwer, Jack, 2014. "Poly-generating closed cathode fuel cell with carbon capture," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 108-116.
    17. Yusung Kim & Sanghoon Lee & Gu Young Cho & Wonjong Yu & Yeageun Lee & Ikwhang Chang & Jong Dae Baek & Suk Won Cha, 2020. "Investigation of Reducing In-Plane Resistance of Nickel Oxide-Samaria-Doped Ceria Anode in Thin-Film Solid Oxide Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-8, April.
    18. Visweshwar Sivasankaran & Lionel Combemale & Mélanie François & Gilles Caboche, 2020. "Ce 0.9 Gd 0.1 O 2−x for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Influence of Cathode Thickness and Anode Functional Layer on Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-11, August.
    19. Fausto Cavallaro & Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas & Saulius Raslanas, 2016. "Evaluation of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Systems Using Fuzzy Shannon Entropy and Fuzzy TOPSIS," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-21, June.
    20. Kalmula, Babita & Kondapuram, Vijaya Raghavan, 2015. "Fuel processor – fuel cell integration: Systemic issues and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 409-418.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53014-w. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.