Abstract:
A method and resulting device for metallic structures including interconnects and sealed frames for solid oxide fuel cells, particularly those with multi-cell electrolyte sheets, includes providing a high-temperature aluminum-containing surface-alumina-forming steel, forming an interconnect structure from the steel, removing any alumina layer from a surface portion of the interconnect where an electrical contact is to be formed, providing a structure having a surface portion with which electrical contact is to be made by the surface portion of the interconnect, and brazing the surface portion of the interconnect to the surface portion of the structure, and sealing fuel cell frames by brazing.
Abstract:
A device comprising (i) a first layer having a first surface comprising a first metal; and (ii) a second layer comprising an oxide of a second metal bonding directly to the first surface of the first layer and covering at least a part of the first surface of the first layer, wherein: (A) the interface between the first layer and the second layer is substantially dense and has an irregular topography; and (B) the second metal is capable of forming an alloy with the first metal when the second metal is deposited on the first surface of the first metal at an elevated temperature. The device can be advantageously formed by a process including a step of forming a mixture such as an intermetallic of the first metal and the second metal over the first metal, followed by oxidation of the metal mixture at an elevated temperature.
Abstract:
Described herein are methods of producing an aluminide barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer includes nickel aluminide, iron aluminide, or a combination thereof, and the barrier layer is produced by a diffusion coating process on at least one surface of the article. The methods described herein are useful for preventing or reducing the migration of a metal species at or near at least one surface of the article. The articles produced by the methods described herein have numerous applications in the construction and operation of fuel cells.