Fabrication and Performance of Anode-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract

This work addresses the development of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells using alternative low-cost techniques such as cold die pressing of the anode substrates and spray deposition of electrolyte layers. The new techniques have been developed up to the fabrication of disc cells with a diameter of 120 mm consisting of a co-sintered anode support and the yttrium-stabilized zirconia electrolyte layer. The concept was demonstrated in a three-cell stack according to the Sulzer HEXIS design and operated successfully in steam-reformed natural gas at around 800degreesC. The cell performance reached 430 mW/cm(2). Electrical efficiencies of >60% at a fuel utilization of 90% represent excellent performance for the non-sealed HEXIS stack design.