Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with SDC-Carbonate Electrolytes

Abstract

Composites consisting of Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 (SDC)-carbonate were developed as electrolytes for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LTSOFC). The SDC power was prepared by sol-gel method. The carbonates were binary eutectics of (Li/Na)2CO3, (Li/K)2CO3 and (K/Na)2CO3. Conductivity measurements showed that the conductivities were depended on the type of carbonates. Discontinuities were found in the Arrhenius plots for both SDC-(Li/Na)2CO3 and SDC-(Li/K)2CO3. For SDC-(Na/K)2CO3 composite electrolyte, the conductivity increased as temperature rose following one slope. Single cells based on various composites were fabricated by a uniaxial die-press method and tested at 450-600 oC. The results showed all cells exhibited improved performances upon that of pure SDC-based cell. The best power density of 532 mW cm-2 at 600 oC was achieved for LTSOFC using composite of SDC and (Li/Na)2CO3. Conductivity mechanism was also discussed.