Solid oxide fuel cell cathodes conventional

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) consists of two electrodes anode and cathode, with a ceramic electrolyte between that transfers oxygen ions. A SOFC typically operates at a temperature between 700 and 1000 °C. at which temperature the ceramic electrolyte begins to exhibit sufficient ionic conductivity. This high operating temperature also accelerates electrochemical reactions therefore, a SOFC does not require precious metal catalysts to promote the reactions. More abundant materials such as nickel have sufficient catalytic activity to be used as SOFC electrodes. In addition, the SOFC is more fuel-flexible than other types of fuel cells, and reforming of hydrocarbon fuels can be performed inside the cell. This allows use of conventional hydrocarbon fuels in a SOFC without an external reformer. 

A single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell (SC-SOFC), which operates using a mixture of fuel and oxidant gases, provides several advantages over the conventional double-chamber SOFC, such as simplified cell structure with no sealing required and direct use of hydrocarbon fuel [1, 2], The oxygen activity at the electrodes of the SC-SOFC is not fixed and one electrode (anode) has a higher electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of the fuel than the other (cathode). Oxidation reactions of a hydrocarbon fuel can... 

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Direct Hydrocarbon Type, Fig. 3 F iedicted gas constitution versus position in the SOFC anode support, for a current density of 1 A/cm. The top shows a cell with a conventional NiYSZ support and the bottom a Sro.8Lao.2Ti03 support Both cell types had a NiYSZ anode functional layer, YSZ electrolyte, and LSMYSZ (LSM = Lao.8Sro.2Mn03) cathode (From Ref [34])... 

The coplanar fuel ceU design is used primarily for fuel cells with a mixed-reactant supply. In this design both selective electrodes (anodes and cathodes) are situated on the same surface of the electrolyte (ion-conducting membrane, matrix filled with liquid electrolyte, or solid electrolyte). This surface also contacts the reactant mixture. Such an electrolyte is said to be single-faced. This is in contrast to the conventional MEAs used for almost all varieties of fuel cells, in which the electrolyte is dual-faced, contacting the anode and the fuel on one side and the cathode and the oxidizer on the other side. 

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