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Refractory Cathode Investigation for Single-Step Co-Fired Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Peter A. Zink
Affiliation:
pzink@bu.edu, Boston University, Manufacturing Engineering, 15 Saint Mary's Street, Brookline, MA, 02446, United States
Kyung Joong Yoon
Affiliation:
kjyoon@bu.edu, Boston University, Manufacturing Engineering, 15 Saint Mary's Street, Brookline, MA, 02446, United States
Wenhua Huang
Affiliation:
wenhuah@bu.edu, Boston University, Manufacturing Engineering, 15 Saint Mary's Street, Brookline, MA, 02446, United States
Srikanth Gopalan
Affiliation:
sgopalan@bu.edu, Boston University, Manufacturing Engineering, 15 Saint Mary's Street, Brookline, MA, 02446, United States
Uday B. Pal
Affiliation:
upal@bu.edu, Boston University, Manufacturing Engineering, 15 Saint Mary's Street, Brookline, MA, 02446, United States
Donald A. Seccombe Jr., PE
Affiliation:
DSeccombe@btu.com, BTU International, 23 Esquire Road, North Billerica, MA, 01862, United States
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Abstract

A single step co-firing process for fabricating solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) requires refractory electrodes to prevent excessive sintering of the electrode while facilitating full-density sintering of the electrolyte. Single cell current-potential curves and impedance measurements indicate that the majority of the performance losses occur in the cathode and are due to activation polarization. A-site deficient calcium and cerium doped lanthanum ferrite cathode powders were synthesized and investigated as possible refractory cathode materials with low activation polarization losses. Four-probe conductivity measurements indicated that all compositions were suitable as cathodes. However, reactivity with YSZ reduced the conductivity by as much as two orders of magnitude, too low for use as a cathode. These refractory cathode compositions could be effective if a suitable barrier layer is applied to prevent reaction with YSZ. Experiments will investigate the applicability of a doped-ceria barrier layer to prevent reaction between the lanthanum ferrite cathode layer and the YSZ electrolyte layer.

Keywords

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

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References

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