Background
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have drawn attention in recent years as an alternative power generation technology, due to their high efficiency and low emissions. The lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM)-yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) cathode is widely utilized in SOFCs because of its high performance and stability. The microstructure of the LSM-YSZ cathode/YSZ electrolyte interface has a significant influence on the performance of the fuel cell because the electrochemical reactions mainly occur near the electrode/electrolyte interface. Improvement to the microstructures of this interface can be a potential method for SOFC performance improvement.
Inkjet printing is a versatile printing technique that is characterized by ease of operation and precise manufacturing. Piezoelectric inkjet printing specifically does not require the heating of the ink, which expands the range of ink chemistry options. This invention utilizes 3D inkjet printing to fabricate pillar shaped microstructures between the electrolyte/electrode interface for solid oxide electrochemical devices in order to enhance performance.
Invention Description
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed pillar-shaped YSZ 3D microstructures that are inkjet-printed on the planar YSZ electrolyte substrate between the interface of the cathode (LSM-YSZ) and electrolyte (YSZ). These microstructures are between 60 and 90 µm in diameter and show increased triple phase boundary (TPB) area and enhanced the connection between the dense YSZ electrolyte and the mixed YSZ ionic conductor. The microstructure and morphology of the YSZ interface is analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to determine the optimal structure for increased performance.
Potential Applications
- Power generation
- Energy storage
- Microgrid applications
Benefits and Advantages
- Improved performance compared to traditional SOFC designs
- Less microlayers required (40 layers exhibited better performance than 80 layers) and further opportunities for optimization
- Additional testing capabilities (SEM technique allows for accurate characterization of microstructure for optimal performance)
Related Publication: Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with 3D Inkjet Printing Modified LSM-YSZ Interface