Single-Chamber Mini-Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Operated at a Lower Temperature

Abstract

The performance characteristics of single chamber solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with micro-patterned electrode structures on the disc type electrolyte were investigated. We selected Sm0.2Ce0.8O2-x (samarium doped ceria, SDC) as an electrolyte, SDC-NiO cermat as an anode and SDC-Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3(samarium strontium cobaltite) as a cathode for low operating temperature (500-600{degree sign}C). To fabricate complex micro-patterned electrodes on electrolyte, we used microfluidic lithography method. Before patterning the cathode, patterned NiO-SDC anode sintered at 1350{degree sign}C for 4 hrs, then SDC-SSC cathode was patterned and sintered at 1050{degree sign}C for 8 hrs, resulting in co- planar type single chamber SOFC in which interdigitated electrode has 100 μm line width with anode-to-cathode distance 100 μm. Reduction condition was proposed below 350{degree sign}C using humidified hydrogen gas. The shape of electrode and microstructure was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscope. I-V characteristics of the SOFC were measured using a propane-air mixture gas by DC source measure unit.