Dual-layer hollow fibres with different anode structures for micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells

Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman, Nicolas Droushiotis, Zhentao Wu, Geoff Kelsall, K. Li*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In this study, a high performance micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) has been developed by depositing a multi-layer cathode onto an improved electrolyte/anode dual-layer hollow fibre fabricated via a single-step co-extrusion/co-sintering technique. The use of 0-20 wt.% of ethanol in the inner layer spinning suspension allows the control over the asymmetric structure of the Ni-CGO anode layer, i.e. finger-like voids structure covering about 50-85% of the anode layer thickness with the rest volume occupied by sponge-like structure, and at the same time affects the morphology of the CGO electrolyte layer. The presence of finger-like voids significantly facilitates the fuel gas diffusion inside the anode, and as a result, the maximum power density increases from 1.84 W m -2 to 2.32 W cm -2, when the finger-like voids is increased from 50% to 70% of the asymmetric anode layer. However, further growth of finger-like voids, i.e. 85% of the anode layer, dramatically reduce the number of triple-phase boundary (TPB) region and conductivity in the anode, as well as the gas-tightness property of the electrolyte, which consequently decreases the maximum power density to 0.99 W cm -2. Based on the results obtained, therefore, dual-layer hollow fibres with 50-70% of finger-like voids in the anode layer can be considered as the ideal structure for producing high performance micro-tubular SOFCs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)272-280
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Power Sources
Volume205
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2012

Keywords

  • Asymmetric structure
  • Co-extrusion
  • Dual-layer hollow fibre
  • Finger-like voids
  • Micro-tubular SOFC

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Dual-layer hollow fibres with different anode structures for micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this