DEVELOPMENT OF GLASS/NANO-CERAMIC COMPOSITES FOR SEALING SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS

摘要

Availability of durable seals for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) is one of the main limitations to the fabrication of reliable fuel eel stacks. The sealing issue is challenging, as the SOFC operation conditions are severe. In particular, for approaches that incorporate a glass sealant, the following seal characteristics must be accurately adjusted: flow and viscosity, glass transition temperature and crystallization, coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch, and interfacial reactions during sealing and service conditions. The focus of this work was to demonstrate the control achieved on borate-glass properties by the addition of various nano-scale additives. Results on the modification of viscosity, wetting, adhesion, thermal expansion and interfacial reactions are presented.