Coating development at Fuel Cell Energy is a continuous activity looking at optimizing chemistry, application process and features of the coating for longer life of the SOFC stack in high humidity level. Cathode interconnects surfaces are protected with manganese cobalt oxide (MCO) coatings to minimize chrome evaporation and poisoning of the fuel cell.

Protecting the surface of cathode interconnects becomes necessary to extend the SOFC life. Two different coatings have been studied at FCE. MCO was either deposited as a perovskite by dip coating or formed in situ during stack operation. A direct comparison of the two methods was studied after hundreds of hours in SOFC stack testing both in dry and humid air environment. The stacks were tested in normal conditions with dry air in cathode and also in air with additional humidity. A significant improvement in degradation rate and cell stability have been observed and achieved with those stacks.