Testing of a cathode fabricated by painting with a brush pen for anode-supported tubular solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

We have studied the properties of a cathode fabricated by painting with a brush pen for use with anode-supported tubular solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The porous cathode connects well with the electrolyte. A preliminary examination of a single tubular cell, consisting of a Ni–YSZ anode support tube, a Ni–ScSZ anode functional layer, a ScSZ electrolyte film, and a LSM–ScSZ cathode fabricated by painting with a brush pen, has been carried out, and an improved performance is obtained. The ohmic resistance of the cathode side clearly decreases, falling to a value only 37% of that of the comparable cathode made by dip-coating at 850 °C. The single cell with the painted cathode generates a maximum power density of 405 mW cm −2 at 850 °C, when operating with humidified hydrogen.