5991.1:
Ceramic nanopowder fabrication and application as an active and stable cathode material in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Abstract
In Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) research, the ceramic cathode nanostructure is a main performance parameter. On the one hand, the finest possible particle size will result in the lowest interface polarisation loss, on the other hand, particle coarsening during high temperature operation (800°C) over normal periods (>1000 h) causes power density decay. This project will fabricate nanopowders of new cathode compositions by two different methods that are safe, cost effective and scalable, with the aim to stabilize the particle size during long-term high temperature operation below 500 nm. In addition, novel microwave sintering of the cathode layers onto SOFC half-cells will be investigated in order to reduce fabrication energy costs and time and in order to keep the cathode nanostructure fine and homogeneous. The project will be carried out as a partnership between the EMPA Dübendorf and Thun units and EPFL. HTceramix, a SOFC company that recently was granted the CTI start-up label, contributes as the industrial partner.