Study on Diffusion of Copper of SOFC Cu-Based Anodes in Co-Sintering with Electrolyte

Abstract

Cu-based anode has no or little catalytic activity to reaction of precipitating carbon during using carbon-hydrogen fuel, which can avoid failure or disintegration of SOFC caused by catalytically precipitating carbon resulting from Ni-based anode. However, the melting point of CuO, that is 1148°C, is far below the sintering temperature of electrolyte which limits the use of Cu-based anode. So the property of sintering of Cu-based anode between 1050°C and 1150°C was studied by co-pressing and co-sintering Cu-based anode with electrolyte. The result shows that the diffusion of copper in the electrolyte is not apparent when the co-sintering temperature is below 1130°C. At 1140°C, the Matano plane moved to anode side and the diffusion coefficient of copper in the electrolyte is relevant to concentration of copper which is 0.543×10-8-1.74×10-8(cm2•s-1) when the content of copper is 1.51%~18.7%.