Influence of reduced substrate shunting current on cell performance in integrated planar solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

Two-cell arrayed integrated planar solid oxide fuel cells (IP-SOFCs) were fabricated using a robo-dispensing method. Special emphasis was placed on the influence of reduced shunting current on cell performance. The resistivity of the substrate increased according to a mixture rule of composites by adding Al(2)O(3) into the substrate of partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ). This strategy, which reduces shunting current through the substrate, enhances the power output. When the amount of Al(2)O(3) added was more than 26 vol%, however, the Ni anode migrated into the PSZ substrate to react with Al(2)O(3), which led to performance degradation. In the case of the two-cell arrayed IP-SOFC with a 20 vol%-Al(2)O(3) added to the PSZ substrate, a reduced shunting current loss improved the power density by 30% compared to that of the Al(2)O(3)-free substrate. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.