Novel Strategies to Fabricate an Anode Supported-Type Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells (PCFCs)

Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) based on BaZr1-xYxO3-delta (BZY) have attracted great attention as an alternative for the conventional high temperature fuel cells based on oxygen conducting electrolyte. However, this BZY-based PCFC technology still has many technical problems, especially related with the poor sinterability of BZY electrolytes. In order to overcome this poor sinterability which is a critical limitation in making a thin and dense electrolyte layer for anode-supported PCFCs, we employ the sintering aid-assisted enhanced sintering of BaZr0.85Y0.15O3-delta (BZY). We also promote the densification of BZY layer by utilizing the higher sinterability of BaCe0.9Y0.1O3-delta (BCY) that is attached to the top of BZY layer. From proper adjusting of the shrinkage behaviors of both anode substrate and dual electrolyte layer, we could fabricate fairly dense BZY/BCY electrolyte layer with less than 10 micrometer thickness.