Ultra Thin Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with High Power Density

摘要

Ultra thin solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) have been developed on metallic foil substrates. Thin film yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte (1-2 micron) films were deposited on the metallic foil substrates by pulsed laser deposition. XRD analysis indicated that the YSZ films were poly crystalline when deposited on poly crystalline nickel foil substrates and were (100) textured when deposited on atomically textured nickel substrates. The Ni foil substrates were processed into SOFC anodes by photolithography to develop porosity, followed by a further porous NiO-YSZ deposition at the anode side. A composite La{sub}0.5Sr{sub}0.5CoO{sub}3 cathode was then deposited on the YSZ electrolyte. The thin film fuel cells have operated with a significantly reduced temperature: as low as 470 degree C, with maximum power density of 140mW/cm{sup}2. Several such SOFCs have been made and demonstrated good reproducibility, showing good potential for high power density, small volume SOFCs fabrication for power generation applications.