Abstract:
A solid oxide fuel cell includes an anode layer, an electrolyte layer over a surface of the anode layer, and a cathode layer over a surface of the electrolyte layer. The cathode layer includes a cathode bulk layer, a porous cathode functional layer at an electrolyte, an intermediate cathode layer partitioning the cathode bulk layer and the porous cathode functional layer, the porous intermediate cathode layer having a porosity greater than that of the cathode bulk layer. The solid oxide fuel cells can be combined to form subassemblies that are bonded together to form solid oxide fuel cell assemblies.
Abstract:
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a plurality of subassemblies. Each subassembly includes at least one subcell of a first electrode, a second electrode and an electrolyte between the first and second electrodes. A first bonding layer is at the second electrode and an interconnect layer is at the first bonding layer distal to the electrolyte. A second bonding layer that is compositionally distinct from the first bonding layer is at the interconnect layer, whereby the interconnect partitions the first and second bonding layers. A method of fabricating a fuel cell assembly includes co-firing at least two subassemblies using a third bonding layer that is microstructurally or compositionally distinct from the second bonding layer.
Abstract:
A sintered ceramic component can have a final composition including at least 50 wt. % MgO and at least one desired dopant, wherein each dopant of the at least one desired dopant has a desired dopant content of at least 0.1 wt. %. All impurities (not including the desired dopant(s)) are present at a combined impurity content of less than 0.7 wt. %. A remainder can include Al2O3. The selection of dopants can allow for better control over the visual appearance of the sintered ceramic component, reduces the presence of undesired impurities that may adversely affect another part of an apparatus, or both. The addition of the dopant(s) can help to improve the sintering characteristics and density as compared to a sintered ceramic component that includes the material with no dopant and a relatively low impurity content.
Abstract:
A glass-ceramic seal for ionic transport devices such as solid oxide fuel cell stacks or oxygen transport membrane applications. Preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise glass-ceramic sealant material based on a Barium-Aluminum-Silica system, which exhibits a high enough coefficient of thermal expansion to closely match the overall CTE of a SOFC cell/stack (preferably from about 11 to 12.8 ppm/° C.), good sintering behavior, and a very low residual glass phase (which contributes to the stability of the seal).
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to solid oxide fuel cells, and particularly raw powder materials which form a layer in a solid oxide fuel. The raw powder materials include an ionic conductor powder material; and an electronic conductor powder material. The ratio of an average particle diameter of the ionic conductor powder material to an average particle diameter of the electronic conductor powder material is greater than about 1:1, and an average particle diameter of at least one of the electronic conductor powder material or the ionic conductor powder material is coarse.
Abstract:
A method for forming a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) article includes forming a SOFC unit cell in a single, free-sintering process, wherein the SOFC unit cell is made of an electrolyte layer, an interconnect layer, a first electrode layer disposed between the electrolyte layer and the interconnect layer. The electrolyte layer of the SOFC unit cell is in compression after forming.
Abstract:
A bonding layer, disposed between an interconnect layer and an electrode layer of a solid oxide fuel cell article, may be formed from a yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) powder having a monomodal particle size distribution (PSD) with a d50 that is greater than about 1 μm and a d90 that is greater than about 2 μm.
Abstract:
An interconnect of a solid oxide fuel cell article is disclosed. The interconnect is disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode of the solid oxide fuel cell article. The interconnect comprises a first phase including a ceramic interconnect material and a second phase including partially stabilized zirconia. The partially stabilized zirconia may be in a range of between about 0.1 vol % and about 70 vol % of the total volume of the interconnect.