Using Microwave Irradiation for In-situ Infiltration of Electrodes in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract

ABSTRACT Infiltrating a thin porous scaffold on top of an electrolyte forms a high surface area catalyst that is finely distributed over a conductive matrix and could dramatically increase the performance. This research studied microwave irradiation in conjunction with salt infiltration for rapid catalyst synthesis inside the porous YSZ layer. A detailed comparison of crystal structure and electrochemical performance was made between microwave and traditional electric furnace heating. A maximum power density of 843 mW/cm2 at 800°C was achieved for the microwaved sample, more than a 20% improvement over its counterpart. The distribution function of relaxation of two cells was calculated and compared. Long-term stability for more than 96 hours of operation under load at 700°C was conducted. It was concluded that the enhancement of microwaved samples came from the enhanced morphology of the resulting particles.