Abstract:
The present invention provides an anode for a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) and a MCFC including the same, particularly an anode for the MCFC coated by a porous ceramic film, when the invention is used, the wettability of the anode to the molten carbonate used as the electrolyte for the MCFC and the amount of impregnated electrolyte will be greatly improved, and thus is very useful in viewpoint that it can prevent any electrolyte loss that is often observed in the long periods of operation of the MCFC, and maintain a high stability of the cell for an extended period of time, compared with the conventional cell. Also, the present invention itself is applicable to an electrode made of Ni-based alloys or metal compounds, which is expected to be competent MCFC materials nowadays, as well as the electrode made of Ni, NinullCr and NinullAl alloy used in the present invention.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an electrode having a novel configuration for improving performance of the electrode used in solid-oxide fuel cells, sensors and solid state devices, in which the electrode providing electron conductivity is coated with ion conductive ceramic ceria film, enabling an electron conductive path and an ion conductive path to be independently and continuously maintained, and additionally extending a triple phase boundary where electrode/electrolyte/gas are in contact, and a method for manufacturing the same. The electrode is manufactured by coating the prefabricated electrode for use in a SOFC or sensor with a porous oxygen ion conductive ceramic ceria film by a sol-gel method, whereby the electron conductive material and ion conductive material exist independently, having a new microstructure configuration with a greatly extended triple phase boundary, thus improving electrode performance. Accordingly, such electrode does not require high cost equipment or starting materials, owing to the sol-gel method by which low temperature processes are possible. Moreover, the electrode microstructure can be controlled in an easy manner, realizing economic benefits, and the electrode/electrolyte interfacial resistance and electrode resistance can be effectively decreased, thereby improving performance of electrodes used in SOFCs, sensors and solid state devices.
Abstract:
In a method for manufacturing NinullAl alloy powders for electrode materials of fuel cells, in which, using aluminum chloride (AlCl3) as a catalyst, powders of Ni and Al, that have been used as electrode materials, are chemically reacted with each other to diffuse the Al into the Ni powders, so that NinullAl alloy powders can be manufactured at a low temperature below fusion points of Ni and Al while maintaining a shape and a size of the existing Ni powders as they are, thus providing a manufacturing process of NinullAl alloy powders that is simple, economical, compatible in working, and ready for scale-up, and in which a conventional manufacturing process of electrode based on Ni is used as it is, so that large sized electrode is manufactured.
Abstract:
A perforated gas-distributing plate for compact fuel cells made of a metal material such as stainless steel on which gas flow paths are formed by an etching process, and a separator plate manufactured using the gas-distributing plate are disclosed. The separator plate manufactured using the gas-distributing plate may possibly be thinner and no more susceptible to breakage by an externally applied force due to its higher physical strength, compared to conventional graphite separator plates. In addition, since the gas channels formed on the gas-distributing plate have the same dimension, contact resistance decreases and thus the performance of fuel cell increases. Furthermore, since the separator plate is made of a metal material such as stainless steel, cost and manpower are reduced when etching the separator plate, and thus mass production of the separator plate is possible. Therefore, compact fuel cells comprising the separator plate are advantageous in terms of power density, reliability and economic efficiency.