High temperature fuel cells

A high temperature fuel cell using a solid oxide electrolyte, and operated at room temperatures above 700°C, is a highly efficient energy conversion device utilizing primarily gaseous fuels like H2 and CO. It can also be operated in the reverse manner as a high temperature steam electrolyzer to produce hydrogen. The operating principle and the construction details of different design concepts have been discussed. Nonavailability of suitable electrode and interconnection materials has hampered commercial exploitation. Recent trends in the development of these materials have been focused upon, both in the national and the international context.