Recent advances in single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells: A review

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have received much recent attention as next generation alternative energy sources. In particular, current efforts are devoted to reducing SOFC costs by downsizing fuel cell systems and lowering the operating temperature. Single-chamber SOFCs (SC-SOFCs) have the potential of meeting the demands. This type of fuel cell consists of only one gas chamber, wherein the anode and cathode are exposed to the same mixture of fuel and oxidant gas. This simplified design offers the possibility of reducing stack components and eliminating the need for sealing. Furthermore, since the principle of operation in the mixture is based on exothermic partial oxidation of the fuel that evolves a large amount of reaction heat, the cell temperature can be efficiently increased, enhancing the ion conductivity of the electrolyte and the catalytic activity of the electrodes. This paper reviews the current status of SC-SOFCs with principal emphasis on the materials aspect. In addition, the benefits and limitations of SC-SOFCs are discussed based on the cell design, performance, and energy efficiency.