The Effect of Thin Functional Electrode Layers on Characteristics of Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

Abstract

The thin-film multilayer structure of the membrane-electrode assembly in a solid oxide fuel cell which involves a NiO/ZrO2:Y2O3 anode functional layer and a La0.6Sr0.4CoO3 cathode functional layer and also a bilayer ZrO2:Y2O3/Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 electrolyte is formed by magnetron sputtering onto a supporting NiO/ZrO2:Y2O3 anode. The effect of the functional electrode layers involved in the structure of a solid oxide fuel cell on its efficiency is studied. The volt–ampere characteristics of multilayer fuel cells are studied in the temperature range of 800–600°C. It is shown that the inclusion of a thin (600 nm thick) cathode functional layer into the structure of the membrane–electrode assembly enhances the fuel cell efficiency by reducing the polarization losses on electrodes. The maximum power density of the fuel cell with the cathode functional layer is 2290 and 500 mW/cm2 at 800 and 600°С, respectively. The simultaneous presence of anode and cathode functional layers is found to be unwelcome because gives rise to diffusion limitations on the anode.