Performance Investigation of Dual Layer Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia–Samaria-Doped Ceria Electrolyte for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract

The performance of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)–samaria-doped ceria (SDC) dual layer electrolyte anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell (AS-SOFC) was investigated. Tape-casting, lamination, and co-sintering of the NiO–YSZ anode followed by wet powder spraying of the SDC buffer layer and BSCF cathode was proposed for fabrication of these cells as an effective means of reducing the number of sintering stages required. The AS-SOFC showed a significant fuel cell performance of ∼1.9 W cm−2 at 800 °C. The fuel cell performance varies significantly with the sintering temperature of the SDC buffer layer. An optimal buffer layer sintering temperature of 1350 °C occurs due to a balance between the YSZ–SDC contact and densification at low sintering temperature and reactions between YSZ and SDC at high sintering temperatures. At high sintering temperatures, the reactions between YSZ and SDC have a detrimental effect on the fuel cell performance resulting in no power at a sintering temperature of 1500 °C.

Micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cells

“…The anode tube was dried for 48 h and then pre-fired to 1000˚C for 4 h in air. A YSZ electrolyte layer was spray deposited onto the anode tube, dried and sintered to 1400˚C for 4 h. Details for the spray deposition technique were reported previously (Milcarek et al, 2016f). The sintered anode had an internal diameter of 2.4 mm and an external diameter of 3.2 mm.…”

“…Despite the advantages, challenges in SOFCs include slow startup and limited thermal cycling because it is challenging to create a robust seal on the ceramic SOFC materials and other balance of plant (BoP) components. This is a significant challenge in a dual chamber configuration in which the fuel cells are sealed to create separate fuel and oxidant chambers (Milcarek et al, 2016e;Milcarek et al, 2016f). To avoid the sealing challenges a single chamber configuration (Priestnall et al, 2002;Raz et al, 2002;Riess 2008;Riess et al, 1995) and a no-chamber, Direct Flame Fuel Cell (DFFC) (Endo and Nakamura 2014;Horiuchi et al, 2004;Kronemayer et al, 2007;Sun et al, 2010;Vogler et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2008;Wang et al, 2015;Wang et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2014b;Wang et al, 2013;Yu-guang Wang et al, 2014;Wang et al, 2014a;Zhu et al 2012), have been proposed.…”

Performance variation with SDC buffer layer thickness

“…Furthermore, the porous, rough SDC layer can be advantageous in increasing the effective surface area of the triple phase boundary and enhancing the fuel cell performance [6,35]. These reasons are considered partially responsible for the peak performance (~1.9 W cm À2 ) of a porous SDC buffer layer occurring at a sintering temperature of 1350 C despite the detrimental Zr e Ce interdiffusion that occurs [36].…”

Surface Modification Allows High Performance for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Fabricated by a Single‐step Co‐firing Process

“…For the cells prepared by the conventional, varieties of methods via surface modifications have been introduced to improve the cell performance, such as atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical infiltration/solution infiltration, pulsed laser deposition (PLD) . Surface modification could develop new catalyst materials with varied approaches to enhance the cathode performance, such as the catalytic activity improvement or three‐phase boundaries (TPBs) extension , . A dual layer electrolyte anode‐supported cell (ASC) with a samaria‐doped ceria (SDC) layer spraying wet powder onto the YSZ electrolyte layer was co‐sintering with the use of tape‐casting and lamination for a reduction in the number of sintering stages and showed an extraordinary fuel cell performance .…”

“…Surface modification could develop new catalyst materials with varied approaches to enhance the cathode performance, such as the catalytic activity improvement or three‐phase boundaries (TPBs) extension , . A dual layer electrolyte anode‐supported cell (ASC) with a samaria‐doped ceria (SDC) layer spraying wet powder onto the YSZ electrolyte layer was co‐sintering with the use of tape‐casting and lamination for a reduction in the number of sintering stages and showed an extraordinary fuel cell performance . While these solutions significantly improve the power density, they still require several procedures for the whole cell preparation which may not be suitable for the SC process.…”