Development of an Optimized Anode Functional Layer for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Applications

Abstract

The development of optimized electrodes for planar anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is of great technical interest. The main function of the SOFC anode is to provide the reaction sites for the electrochemical oxidation of the fuel gas. Thus, the anode material must be stable in the reducing environment and have sufficient electronic conductivity and catalytic activity for the fuel/gas reaction under operating conditions. In this paper the effect of an anode functional layer with different thicknesses and different Ni contents on the performance of a solid oxide fuel cell was investigated. This is an alternative approach to the usually used porous cermet made of Ni and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) to extend the active area of the electrode reaction into the bulk of the electrode.