Abstract:
The present invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell having a gradient structure in which pore size becomes gradually smaller from a porous electrode to an electrolyte thin film in order to form a dense electrolyte thin film of less than about 2 microns and preferably less than 1 micron on the porous electrode.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a dense thin film, a fuel cell using the same and fabrication methods thereof. A method for fabricating a dense thin film comprises (1) forming a first thin film on a porous surface, and (2) forming, on a surface of the first thin film, a second thin film made of a homogeneous material with respect to the first thin film, thereby removing pinholes of the first thin film. The method for fabricating a dense thin film may comprise (1′) forming a first thin film on a porous surface, (2′) forming, on a surface of the first thin film, a second thin film made of a to heterogeneous material with respect to the first thin film, thereby removing pinholes of the first thin film, and (3′) etching a surface of the second thin film. A dense thin film comprises a porous material, a first thin film formed on a surface of the porous material and having pinholes, a blocking material including a homogeneous or heterogeneous material with respect to the first thin film and configured to block the pinholes, and a second thin film including a homogeneous or heterogeneous material with respect to the first thin film and formed on a surface of the first thin film.
Abstract:
A composite sealant of the present invention increases a fracture toughness of glass which has an excellent gas tightness but has a low fracture resistance, to enhance the thermal cycle stability while maintaining the gas tightness of a stack. For this, alpha-alumina fiber particles, alpha-alumina granular particles, and metallic particles are mixed and added to a glass matrix for remarkably increasing the fracture toughness from 0.5 MPa·m05 to 6 MPa·m°'5 through the multiple effects of crack deflection and crack bridging by the fiber and granular particles, and effects of crack arresting and plastic deformation by the metallic particles. When using the high fracture toughness composite sealant of the present invention, since the gas tightness and the stability of the stack can be maintained even when there is a thermal stress produced by a non-uniform temperature distribution or a thermal cycle condition in the stack, increasing the fracture toughness of the composite sealant works as the most important factor for enhancing the reliability of a large-area stack.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a single chamber solid oxide fuel cell, in which an electrode is arranged on the same plane as an electrolyte and unit cells are integrated to one another. A high output density of the fuel cell is obtained, and a micro fuel cell for generating a high voltage and a high current is implemented by constructing the unit cells in series or in parallel.
Abstract:
A SiC whisker-reinforced ceramic composite is prepared by adding about 0.4 to 1.0% by weight of a nonionic polymer, polyvinylalcohol (PVA) to a heat-treated SiC whisker to obtain a SiC whisker slurry, mixing the SiC whisker slurry with a matrix slurry formed at about pH 4 followed by freeze-drying the resulting slurry mixture to produce granules having a uniform packing structure and hot pressing the granules.
Abstract:
The present invention provides electrode-electrolyte composite particles for a fuel cell, which have either electrode material particles uniformly dispersed around electrolyte material particles or electrolyte material particles uniformly dispersed around electrode material particles, to enhance the electrode performance characteristics and electrode/electrolyte bonding force, as well as thermal, mechanical and electrochemical properties of the fuel cell, in a simple method without using expensive starting materials and a high temperature process.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a paste for screen printing which is used in the fabrication of an anode functional layer, an electrolyte layer, or a cathode layer of an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell. The paste contains a raw material powder, ethyl cellulose alpha terpineol, and an alcoholic solvent in which a thermosetting binder is soluble. Also provided is a method of fabricating an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell using the paste. Thus, a reliable high-performance, large area solid oxide fuel cell that can be economically and efficiently fabricated is provided.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an anode supporter for a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The SOFC comprises an anode supporter having a high gas permeability, a high electrical conductivity, a high electrochemical activity, a high mechanical strength, and a large area; an anode functional layer for attenuating a surface defect of the anode supporter and maximizing an electrochemical activity of the anode; an electrolyte having a ultra-thin film; a cathode functional layer for removing an interface reaction between the electrolyte and the cathode and enhancing an electrochemical reaction at the cathode; a cathode having an excellent interface bonding characteristic with the cathode functional layer and a high electrical conductivity; and a current collect layer for maximizing an electrical connection between the cathode and a separator or interconnector. Accordingly, a performance of the single cell of a large area is enhanced.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing composite granules having a homogeneous particle distribution, comprising powders of multimodal particle size distribution and phenol resins, and a method for manufacturing green bodies having homogeneous microstructure without particle separation from the granules.
Abstract:
A metal oxide thin film structure for a solid oxide fuel cell, prepared by a method comprising dispersing a metal oxide nanopowder in a metal oxide salt solution and subsequent coating of the resulting metal oxide powder dispersed sol and the metal oxide salt solution on a porous substrate, has excellent gas impermeability, excellent phase stability, and is devoid of cracks or pinholes.