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Preparation of microtubular solid oxide fuel cells based on highly asymmetric structured electrolyte hollow fibers

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Abstract

A simple and cost-effective method has been developed for the fabrication of microtubular solid oxide fuel cells (MT-SOFCs). Highly asymmetric electrolyte hollow fibers composed of a thin dense skin layer and a thick porous substrate are first prepared by a modified phase inversion/sintering technique. The porous substrate is then formed into the anode by deposition of a Ni catalyst via an electroless plating method inside the pores while the thin dense skin layer serves directly as the electrolyte film of the fuel cells. A porous cathode layer is produced on the outer surface of the Ni-deposited hollow fibers by slurry coating and subsequent sintering to form a complete micro tubular fuel cell. The process has been employed to fabricate yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ) supported Ni-YSZ|YSZ|La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF) microtubular fuel cells. The maximum output of the resulting cells is 159.6 mW cm−2 at 800 °C when using H2 as the fuel feed and air as the oxidant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255049, China

    Yang Liu, Nan Liu & XiaoYao Tan

  2. School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300160, China

    XiaoYao Tan

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  1. Yang Liu
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  2. Nan Liu
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  3. XiaoYao Tan
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Correspondence to XiaoYao Tan.

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Liu, Y., Liu, N. & Tan, X. Preparation of microtubular solid oxide fuel cells based on highly asymmetric structured electrolyte hollow fibers. Sci. China Chem. 54, 850–855 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-010-4220-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-010-4220-8

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