Next generation fuel cell materials (NextgenFCmat)

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are power sources of high energy efficiency. Their main components are the solid electrolyte, anode (fuel electrode) and cathode (air electrode). State-of-the-art SOFCs normally operate at temperatures of over 650 °C. The project objective was to develop cell components for operation at 600 °C and below, in order to reduce materials costs. This demanded both a reduction in the electrolyte thickness and the development of improved cathodes. Chemical solution deposition was used to make thin film electrolytes and nanoscale cathodes. The device under development was a protonic ceramic fuel cell (PCFC). The electrolyte was deposited onto substrates as epitaxial films. Cathodes were formed by spray pyrolysis, infiltration into porous electrolyte layers and spin coating. The cathodes of highest performance was obtained with a LaCoO3 infiltrated into porous BaCe0.2Zr0.7Y0.1O3-d (BCZY). The area specific resistance of 0.11 Ohm cm^2 obtained at 600°C was a world record for a PCFC. This project involved four partners: SINTEF (Norway, Coordinators), Lund University (Sweden), DTU (Denmark), and RWTH Aachen (Germany). It was funded through the Northern European Innovative Energy Research Programme (N-INNER II).