A Novel Method to Fabricate High Performance Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Reference #: 00819

Invention Description:

This invention is a proprietary process to produce tubular solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). SOFCs have long been considered promising candidates for the next generation energy conversion devices, due to their high electrical conversion efficiencies, environmental benignity, and fuel flexibility. The tubular SOFCs produced with the subject process realize that promise. They can be operated in reversible (both fuel cell and electrolysis) mode with high cell performance and excellent durability. As such, they offer an economically viable alternative for large scale and high-purity hydrogen generation by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. Furthermore, production of syngas (CO + H2), by using high temperature co-electrolysis of steam and CO2, has the promise to make a new paradigm in CO2 sequestration.

Potential Applications:

This proprietary process will be used in the field of clean energy.

Advantages and Benefits:

1. The porous/dense/porous asymmetric tri-layer ceramic structure can be obtained with this proprietary process.
2. The thickness of each layer, as well as the shape and size of the pores can be controlled.
3. The porous layer contains graded finger-like pore geometry, favorable for mass transport.
4. The composition of the porous layer could be either one component or a composite with multiple components.
5. The size and shape of the ceramic tube can be designed and fabricated with this method.
6. The fabrication process is simple, with no expensive equipment involved and is very reproducible with the tube yield more than 95%.