Reduction of Electrode Polarization in Anode-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

In this work, an attempt to reduce electrode polarization of an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell with two approaches and the improvement of the cell electrochemical performance is reported. In fabrication of a conventional single solid oxide fuel cell, yttria stabilized zirconia (8YSZ), NiO-8YSZ, and lanthanum strontium cobalt fluorite (LSCF) were used as electrolyte, anode and cathode materials. On the pre-fired porous anode support, the electrolyte was deposited by electrophoresis deposition while the cathode layer was deposited using a screen-printing method. The first approach was performed by a deposition of samaria doped ceria (SDC) interlayer to prevent formation of an insulating phase between 8YSZ/LSCF interface, while the second approach involved adjustment of the anode microporous structure. The electrochemical performance of the fabricated cells was characterized using an impedance spectroscopy technique. The results showed that insertion of the interlayer between the LSCF cathode and YSZ electrolyte could prevent insulating phase formation, giving rise to a significantly decrease in polarization resistance and a much improved power density over the reference cell. In addition, the anode polarization was further reduced with pore enlargement in the anode substrate together with the fine microstructure of anode functional layer.