A High-Strength Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Supported by an Ordered Porous Cathode Membrane.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Conversion

Background:

• Phase inversion tape casting is common for fabricating porous supports in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), improving gas transmission but suffering from weak mechanical strength.
• The limited structural integrity of macro-porous supports hinders the widespread application of SOFCs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, mechanically robust porous support for SOFCs.
• To enhance the performance and durability of SOFCs through an improved structural design.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a four-layer ordered porous cathode membrane using phase inversion tape casting, dip-coating, co-sintering, and impregnation.
• Characterization of the mechanical strength, microstructure, and electrochemical performance of the fabricated SOFCs.
• Investigation of the degradation mechanism using microstructure analysis and distribution of relaxation times (DRT).

Main Results:

• A novel SOFC with an ordered porous cathode membrane (3YSZ-LSCF, 8YSZ-LSCF, 8YSZ-NiO) was successfully prepared.
• The 3YSZ membrane exhibited a high flexural strength of 131.95 MPa, meeting SOFC requirements.
• The cathode-supported single cell achieved a peak power density of 540 mW cm⁻² at 850 °C with H₂ fuel.

Conclusions:

• The developed fabrication method yields SOFCs with significantly improved mechanical strength.
• The novel cathode-supported SOFC demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance.
• Understanding the degradation mechanism is crucial for further optimizing SOFC durability.