Manufacture of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Using Electroless Co-Deposition: A Review of Work Carried out at Edinburgh Napier University

Abstract

This paper reviews work carried out at Edinburgh Napier University on the manufacture of anodes and cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) using electroless co-deposition of nickel and ceramic powders. Most of the work has been focused on anodes where the co-deposition of nickel and yttria stabilised zirconia (YSZ) negates the need for traditional manufacturing methods such as screen printing and removes the need for expensive and time consuming high temperature consolidation of the ceramic part of the composite. Work has also been carried out manufacturing cathodes by electroless co-deposition replacing YSZ with lanthanum strontium manganite and lanthanum nickel ferrite. Anodes and cathodes of both planar and tubular designs of SOFCs have been successfully manufactured using this technique and process variables have included ceramic particle size, bath pH, ceramic loading, the inclusion of pore-formers and tubular orientation in the electroless bath. Testing of the electrodes included impedance analysis, long term degradation testing at 850oC for 500 and 1000-hours, high temperature electrical conductivity measurements, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The cost benefits of the electroless co-deposition process compared with other conventional processes are also discussed.