Interactions Between Metallic Interconnects and Ceramic Electrodes in SOFC Operating Environments

Ferritic stainless steel bipolar plates are widely used to interconnect individual cells in planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell stacks. In this study, thin films of electrode ceramic materials, LSM for the cathode and NiO/YSZ for the anode, were screen printed on the selected metallic alloys (with and without surface coatings). Samples were then placed in a test rig which allows simultaneous exposures to single (air/air) and dual atmospheres (air/fuel) at 800 degrees C for 100 hours. This research is focused on the investigation of the thermally grown oxide layer and ionic transport phenomena governing of materials interactions during realistic SOFC exposures. Morphology of the surfaces and cross sections were analyzed by a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and the composition was assessed using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS).