Ceramics-Silikáty

Sintering critically influences the spinel catalyst performance in hydrogen fuel cell applications by modifying the structural, electrical, and electrochemical characteristics. This review analyses the complex interplay between the sintering parameters (temperature, time, atmosphere) and the resulting material properties, considering diverse techniques including conventional, flash sintering (FS), spark plasma sintering (SPS), and ultrafast high temperature sintering (UHS). The analysis encompasses the effects on the microstructure, porosity, grain size, electrical conductivity, and electrochemical activity, drawing comparisons across various spinel materials and applications such as water splitting and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). This reveals inherent trade-offs between the densification, grain growth, surface area, and defect chemistry. While advanced techniques like FS and UHS offer rapid processing and microstructural control, they also present challenges including residual stresses and non-equilibrium defect concentrations. Future research should prioritise the in situ characterisation to understand the sintering dynamics, multiscale computational modelling for predictive process design, and the development of comprehensive process maps to tailor spinel catalysts for optimal performance in hydrogen fuel cell applications.