Enhancing Cathode Performance and Anode Sulfur/Carbon Tolerance of SOFCs by Nano-Infiltration

The positive cost benefit associated with the use of metallic interconnects in SOFCs have led commercial developers to target operating temperatures in the range of 600 degrees C-800 degrees C; however maintaining high electrode performance at reduced temperatures remains a challenge. One approach to increase electrode performance is to enhance the active catalytic area by infiltrating the electrode with dispersed catalyst. LBNL has developed an infiltration method that deposits a continuous network of nanoparticles throughout existing electrodes, in a single processing step. In the case of mixed ionic electronic conductor (MIEC) nanoparticles infiltrated into LSM-YSZ electrodes, electrode performance is greatly improved by both the catalytic properties of the MIEC and the triple-phase boundary extension across the surfaces of both the electrode and electrolyte particles in the electrode. The infiltration method has additionally been used to deposit MIEC nanoparticles in Ni-YSZ electrodes, leading not only to improved performance, but to impressive sulfur tolerance as well.