Significantly Enhanced Performance of Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells by Laser Engineering the Electrolyte/Cathode Interface
Tianyi Zhou, Huang Hua, Yuqing Meng, J.R. Conrad, Minda Zou, Zeyu Zhao, Kyle S. Brinkman, Jianhua Tong
Abstract
Protonic ceramic fuel cells have attracted much attention due to their good performance at intermediate temperatures (400–700 °C). However, the highly resistive electrolyte-cathode interface has been discovered to be a crucial obstacle inhibiting further cell improvements in performance. Herein, using a model cell material system of BaCe 0.7 Zr 0.1 Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3-δ electrolyte, 40 wt % BaCe 0.7 Zr 0.1 Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3-δ + 60 wt % NiO anode, and BaCo 0.4 Fe 0.4 Zr 0.1 Y 0.1 O 3-δ cathode, we proved that the laser ablation of electrolyte surfaces could accurately remove chemistry discrepancy, increase microroughness, and create versatile patterns for engineering electrolyte/cathode interfaces toward decreased ohmic and polarization resistances. The cells with laser cross-patterned interfaces quadrupled the peak power density of those with pristine interfaces, achieving around 1.4 W/cm 2 at 650 °C, among the highest performance regions. The stability testing for 180 h showed no noticeable performance degradation. This laser engineering process is more scalable and ubiquitous than the recently reported chemical-processing methodologies and is suitable for manufacturing a wide range of solid oxide cells.