Investigation of aluminosilicate as a solid oxide fuel cell refractory

▶ Enriched mullite surface concentrations indicate the bulk is a long term Si source. ▶ Si diffusion at the aluminosilicate surface is accelerated in the presence of H2O. ▶ Vapors from aluminosilicate preferentially deposit on YSZ rather than Ni. ▶ Amorphous siliceous deposits diffused into the YSZ along grain boundaries. ▶ Aluminosilicate vapors in the SOFC anode fuel stream caused rapid degradation.