A Novel Micro-Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell with a Porous Zirconia Support for Intermediate-Temperature Operation

Abstract

To improve current collection efficiency and prevent cell degradation under reduction–oxidation (redox) cycling, we have proposed a novel micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with a configuration of inert support/current collector/inner electrode/electrolyte/ outer electrode/current collector. In this work, we applied multi-step dip coating and low-temperature co-sintering methods to fabricate a micro-tubular SOFC based on the proposed design using yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), Ni, Ni-scandia-stabilized zirconia (ScSZ), ScSZ, strontium-doped lanthanum manganite (LSM)–ScSZ, and LSM as the inert support, anode current collector, anode, electrolyte, cathode, and cathode current collector, respectively. The electrochemical performance of the fabricated cell was characterized in an intermediate temperature range, which allows for the use of cheap stack materials and also slows down the performance degradation mechanisms. Our results indicate that the performance of the proposed micro-tubular SOFC can be improved considerably in the intermediate-temperature range using conventional materials when YSZ is substituted with ScSZ as the electrolyte and ion-conducting phase in the electrodes.