Thin film solid oxide fuel cells with copper cermet anodes

Thin film solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), composed of thin coatings of 8 mol% Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ) and thick substrates of (La0.8Sr0.2)0.98MnO3 (LSM)–YSZ cathodes, are fabricated using the conventional tape casting and tape lamination techniques. Densification of YSZ electrolyte thin films is achieved at 1275 °C by adjusting the cathode tape formulation and sintering characteristics. Two types of copper cermets, CuO–YSZ–ceria and CuO–SDC (Ce0.85Sm0.15O1.925)–ceria, are compared in terms of the anodic performance in hydrogen and propane. Maximum power densities for hydrogen and propane at 800 °C are 0.26 W cm−2 and 0.17 W cm−2 for CuO–YSZ–ceria anodes and 0.35 W cm−2 and 0.22 W cm−2 for CuO–SDC–ceria anodes, respectively. Electrochemical impedance analysis suggests that CuO–SDC–ceria exhibits a much lower anodic polarization resistance than CuO–YSZ–ceria, which could be explained by the intrinsic mixed oxygen ionic and electronic conductivities for SDC in the reducing atmosphere.