Enhancing the mass transfer of protonic ceramic fuel cells with open-straight pore structure via phase inversion tape casting

The porosity and pore structure of anode support plays an important role in fuel gas diffusion of protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs). In this study, the PCFC with Ni-BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-delta (BZCYYb) anode substrate with finger -like straight pore and reasonable flexural strength was successfully prepared by a one-step phase inversion tape casting, spin coating and co-firing technologies. The peak power density of single cell reaches 0.77 W cm(-2) at 700 C using 3 % H2O humidified hydrogen as the fuel, which is significantly higher than the single cell prepared by typical dry-pressing method. It is found that the improvement is attributed to the optimization of anode mass transfer process with open-straight hole according to the relaxation time distribution (DRT) analysis of polarization resistance. Meanwhile, the single cell prepared by one-step phase inversion tape casting shows no significant degradation after a 100 h stability test at 65 degrees C or short thermal-cycling test. The results indicate that the fabrication of straight hole via phase inversion tape casting is an effective way to facilitate the transfer of fuel gas and eliminate the concentration polarization loss.