Influence of anode thickness on the power output of solid oxide fuel cells with (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)-type cathode

The influence of the thickness of the anode (functional layer) on the power output of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells with a lanthanum-strontium-cobalt-ferrite cathode was investigated. The anode was applied by vacuum slip casting and the thickness varied between 1 and 22 mu m. All other material and microstructural parameters were kept constant. Single cells with dimensions of 50 mm x 50 mm and with an active cathode area of 40 mm x 40 mm were manufactured and tested in an alumina housing with air as oxidant and hydrogen with 3% water vapour as the fuel gas. Results have shown that SOFCs with anodes between 1 and 13 mu m have slightly better performance than those with thicker anodes (similar to 1.7A cm(-2) versus 1.5 A cm(-2) at 800 degrees C and 0.7 V). The current densities were discussed with respect to cell area specific resistance, helium leak rate of the half-cell, and microstructure. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.