Single-step fabrication of an anode supported planar single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell

We present single-step-co-sintering manufacture of a planar single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell (SC-SOFC) with porous multilayer structures consisting of NiO/CGO, CGO and CGO-LSCF as anode, electrolyte, and cathode, respectively. Their green tapes were casted with 20 m thickness and stacked into layers of anode, electrolyte, and cathode (10:2:2), then hot-pressed at 2 MPa and 60 degrees C for 5 minutes (deemed optimal). Subsequently, hot laminated layers were cut into 40 x 40 mm cells and co-sintered up to 1200 degrees C via different sintering profiles. Shrinkage behavior and curvature developments of cells were characterized, determining the best sintering profile. Hence, anode-supported SC-SOFCs were fabricated via a single-step co-sintering process, albeit with curvature formation at edges. Subsequently, anode thickness was increased to 800 m and electrolyte reduced to 20 m to obtain SOFCs with drastically reduced curvature with the help of a porous alumina cover plate.