A ceramic fuel cell in an all solid-state energy conversion device that produces electricity by electrochemically combining fuel and oxidant gases across an ionic conducting oxide. Current ceramic fuel cells use an oxygen-ion conductor or a proton conductor as the electrolyte and operate at high temperatures (>600°C). Ceramic fuel cells, commonly referred to as solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), are presently under development for a variety of power generation applications. This paper reviews the science and technology of ceramic fuel cells and discusses the critical issues posed by the development of this type of fuel cell. The emphasis is given to the discussion of component materials (especially, ZrO2 electrolyte, nickel/ZrO2 cermet anode, LaMnO3 cathode, and LaCrO3 interconnect), gas reactions at the electrodes, stack designs, and processing techniques used in the fabrication of required ceramic structures.

Ceramic Fuel Cells

Progress in material selection for solid oxide fuel cell technology: A review

Characteristics of cathodic polarization at Pt/YSZ interface without the effect of electrode microstructure

YSZ Electrolyte discs with patterned LSM electrodes having different three phase boundary (TPB) lengths but the same electrode-electrolyte interface area, were prepared using photomicrolithography. Impedance spectra for half-cells were obtained under oxygen partial pressures, ranging from 10-3 to 1 atm and temperatures from 650 to 800oC. Area specific charge transfer resistance was found to vary inversely. While the charge transfer resistance is inversely proportional to consistent with the charge transfer reaction occurring mainly at the TPB, at 800oC some transport through LSM also appears to occur. The estimated value of charge transfer resistivity corresponding to the charge transfer reaction occurring at TPB, in air at 800oC is in good agreement with that estimated from actual fuel cell tests using quantitative stereological analysis of LSM-YSZ composite electrodes and were found to decrease with increasing and with increasing temperature. The activation energy for the overall charge transfer reaction was estimated to be ~1.5 eV.

Estimation of Charge-Transfer Resistivity of Pt Cathode on YSZ Electrolyte Using Patterned Electrodes

Relationship between corrosion processes and oxygen evolution on anodes made from noble metals and related metal oxide anodes

The influence of high temperature annealing and heavy current treatments of porous Pt electrodes is investigated with scanning electron microscopy. The results are discussed on the basis of the kinetic behaviour of these electrodes, known from the literature or deduced from our still unpublished results. It is demonstrated that both the structure and the catalytic activity are influenced by the treatments.

On the influence of the annealing temperature and heavy current treatments on the porous structure of platinum electrodes and on the kinetics of the oxygen reaction at high temperatures

The use of model electrochemical cells for the purpose of optimizing the design and performances of cells using a ceramic oxide electrolyte is considered Measurements carried out on these cells are compared with results of polarization experiments with Pt electrodes on an yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolyte

M. Bianchi

Papers

On the influence of the annealing temperature and heavy current treatments on the porous structure of platinum electrodes and on the kinetics of the oxygen reaction at high temperatures

Influence of cell geometry on the shape of polarization curves of porous Pt electrodes on a YSZ electrolyte