NU 2013-187

Inventors

Scott Barnett*

Zhan Gao

Elizabeth Miller

Short Description

A SOFC with low operating temperature and increased power density

Abstract

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells operate at high temperatures (750-1000C) introduce difficult challenges related to high materials cost, seals and interconnects, startup time, and long-term durability. This invention describes Sr0.8La0.2TiO3 (SLT)-supported SOFCs with a thin (La0.9Sr0.1)0.98Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-δ (LSGM) electrolyte and porous LSGM anode functional layer (AFL) for low temperature (450C-650C) application. The cells were prepared by first cofiring a tri-layer structure to yield a thick porous SLT support, a porous LSGM layer, and a dense LSGM layer; and then forming an anode by infiltration of Ni on the support side and the cathode by screen printing an La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Co0.2O3-δ (LSCF)/Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (GDC) layer. This cell increases power density and reduces operating temperature by utilizing nano electrode, which will greatly facilitate the commercialization of the SOFC technology. Increased power density means that fewer cells are needed in a generator, reducing cost. Reduced operating temperature reduces the cost of balance-of-plant components (e.g. insulation, heat exchangers, pumps, etc.), and also reduces degradation, improving long-term durability.

Applications

• Low-temperature solid oxide cells have been mostly developed for stationary-power fuel cell applications from 1 kW to > 10 MW, but are also of interest for portable and transportation applications

• Low-temperature solid oxide cells are seeing great current interest for energy storage applications, including production of renewable fuels and electricity storage

Advantages

• Cost reduction in materials
• Enabling use of nano electrode with improved properties, resulting in solid oxide cells with improved performance in low temperature range (450C-650C)

IP Status

A US patent application has been filed