12 - Materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)

Abstract

Although the SOFC presents a great potential to meet the future demand for efficient and clean energy, development of SOFC technology into a commercial product has proved challenging. Owing to hightemperature operation, the requirements for functional materials are in general more stringent than those of low-temperature fuel cells. Two major barriers identified for commercialization of SOFC technology are reliability and product cost, both of which are closely associated with the materials used in SOFCs. Therefore, it is a rational assertion that the success of SOFC technology largely depends upon the maturity of SOFC materials. In this chapter, we cover SOFC technology from the perspective of materials that have been actively developed and are being engineered. Three major types of SOFCs are classified by the electrolyte material used. For each type of SOFC, the discussion focuses primarily on the electrical, chemical, and thermal properties of their materials. At the end, the fabrication technique for each functional layer is also briefly reviewed.