Micro-SOFC with High Performance and Fast Thermal-Cycling Ability

Due to a limited energy density of Li-ion batteries, miniaturized solid-oxide fuel cells (micro-SOFCs) have received growing attention for use in portable devices or vehicles. Conventional design has adopted a freestanding membrane supported by Si substate and used pure metal electrode which has shown poor thermomechanical-stability. Recently we have developed a new design of micro-SOFC consisting of robust metal support and ceramic-based electrode. Porous stainless-steel (STS) is used as a substrate to support a thin-film membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to achieve thermally-robust cell. A composite of nano-porous (La,Sr)(Ti,Ni)O₃ conductor and electrolyte is applied as a contact layer between the macro-porous STS and the thin-film MEA. Excellent performance and thermal cycling ability at or below 550^oC  for this novel cell are shown and will be further discussed.