Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has been developing a new concept, planar-type solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) fabricated using a single-step co-firing process. Each cell consists of an electrolyte, electrodes, current collectors, gas-separators with manifolds, and gas-flow channels. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is sandwiched between ceramic gas-separators with via-hole electrodes providing electrical paths between cells. Only two steps are required to assemble cells: first, a green state glass-ceramic is placed around the manifold area to provide gas separation; second, a conducting material is applied to the electrode area to provide electrical connection between neighboring cells. The single cell manufacturing and stack assembling methods are described in detail here and represent a promising means for overcoming problems common to planar-type SOFCs.
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