Recent Advances and Challenges in Thin-Film Fabrication Techniques for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are amongst the most widely used renewable alternative energy systems with near-zero carbon emission, high efficiency, and environment-friendly features. However, the high operating temperature of SOFCs is still considered a major challenge due to several issues regarding the materials’ corrosion, unwanted reactions between layers, etc. Thus, low-temperature SOFCs (LT-SOFCs) have gained significant interest during the past decades. Despite the numerous advantages of LT-SOFCs, material selection for each layer is of great importance as the common materials have not shown a desirable performance so far. In addition to the selection of the materials, fabrication techniques have a great influence on the properties of the SOFCs. As SOFCs with thinner layers showed lower polarisation resistance, especially in the electrolyte layer, different thin-film fabrication methods have been employed, and their effect on the overall performance of SOFCs has been evaluated. In this review, we aim to discuss the past and recent progress on the materials and thin-film fabrication techniques used in LT-SOFCs.

Direct Ink Writing for Electrochemical Device Fabrication: A Review of 3D-Printed Electrodes and Ink Rheology

“…Due to the inherent properties of the different ceramic materials, SOFCs seem to operate efficiently at operating temperatures higher than 800 • C. Meanwhile, such high operating temperatures lead to important electrode fabrication failures (e.g., lower electrode-electrolyte interface area) due to critical material complications, increasing maintenance and operational costs and hindering the widespread commercialization of SOFCs. Hence, to fabricate low-temperature and intermediate-temperature SOFCs, the research community has focused on the development of different materials and cell designs [113]. In general, ceramic materials are very difficult in their handling compared with conventional methods; therefore, the DIW technique offers great opportunities to reduce the time and costs required for the fabrication of solid oxide electrodes.…”

Optimizing the structure and optoelectronic properties of cuprite thin films via a plasma focus device as a solar cell absorber layer

“…A prominent challenge in elevating the efficiency of Cu 2 O-based solar cells resides in fabricating a structurally superior absorber layer, devoid of secondary CuO phases, utilizing a technique conducive for industrial application. 26 Numerous deposition techniques have been investigated for producing Cu 2 O thin films, including Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), 27 Metal–Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD), 28 thermal evaporation, 29 and sputtering. 30–33…”

Surface Modification of NiFe Anode-Support for Thin-Film Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell

“…1,2 To reduce the cost of electricity produced from fuel cell systems, development of low-temperature (673-873 K) or intermediate-temperature (873-1023 K) fuel cell is a new target for positioning fuel cells as main technologies for clean energy production in the future. 3 One of the most successful resolutions to reduce the ohmic loss is decreasing the thickness of electrolyte to a thin-film electrolyte. 4 Therefore, anode-support and metal-support cells were subsequently developed.…”