Metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell membranes for rapid thermal cycling

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) membranes were developed in which zirconia-based electrolyte thin films were supported by a porous composite metal/ceramic current collector and were subjected to rapid thermal cycling between 475 and 1075 K (200 and 800 °C). The effects of this cycling on membrane performance were evaluated. The membranes, not yet optimized for performance, showed a peak power density of 350 mW/cm2 at 1175 K (900 °C) in laboratory-sized SOFCs, while rapid thermal cycling had only a marginal effect on cell performance. This resistance to cycling degradation is attributed to the close matching of thermal expansion coefficient of the porous cermet supporting current collector (PCC) with that of the zirconia electrolyte.