Single Chamber Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SC-SOFCs) offer the possibility to simplify SOFC designs because only one gas compartment is necessary. It is the selectivity of the two different electrodes for either the partial oxidation of methane (anode) or the reduction of oxygen (cathode) that generates the open circuit voltage (OCV). SC-SOFCs based on mixed ionic electronic conducting Ce_(0.9)Gd_(0.1)O_(1.95) electrolyte were investigated in this work. Sm_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)CoO_(3-δ) and Ni-Ce_(0.8)Gd_(0.2)O_(1.90) were used as the cathode and the anode materials respectively. Pt-mesh and wire were used as current collectors for both electrodes. The cells generated 271 mW/cm~2 at 500°C and 468 mW/cm~2 at 600°C on a gas mixture of methane and air (CH_4/O_2 =1.6) with a total flow of 400 ml/min. The influences of cobalt oxide doping of the electrolyte on the OCV and the maximum power density have been studied. The presence of cobalt oxide in the electrolyte raises the OCV but decreases the maximum power density. Co-doped electrolytes allowed higher power outputs at low air flow.
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