Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

TLDR

Solid oxide fuel cells promise improved energy efficiency and clean power, operating at 500–1000 °C with fossil fuels and turbines, and consist of a porous anode, an electrolyte membrane, and a porous cathode. The review surveys material types and properties for SOFC components, focusing on intermediate‑temperature operation. It examines materials for the anode, electrolyte, and cathode, emphasizing requirements for 500–800 °C performance. Some directions for future research are discussed.

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have the promise to improve energy efficiency and to provide society with a clean energy producing technology. The high temperature of operation (500−1000 °C) enables the solid oxide fuel cell to operate with existing fossil fuels and to be efficiently coupled with turbines to give very high efficiency conversion of fuels to electricity. Solid oxide fuel cells are complex electrochemical devices that contain three basic components, a porous anode, an electrolyte membrane, and a porous cathode. In this short review, a survey of the types and properties of materials that have been considered for each of these components is presented with an emphasis on the requirements for operation at intermediate temperature (500−800 °C). Some directions for future research are discussed.