MICROSTRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONS OF SOLID OXIDE FUEL-CELLS - MICROSTRUCTURAL DESIGN OF CATHODES AND CURRENT COLLECTORS

Microstructure-property relations of solid oxide fuel cells are studie d using ZrO2-In2O3 as a model electrolyte/electrode, and ZrO2(Y2O3)-La 0.85Sr0.15MnO3-Pt mesh as a model electrolyte/electrode/current collec tor. Electrochemical performance of the cells depends strongly on the microstructure of electrode Its well as the geometry of the current co llectors. A decrease in effective electrode area occurs both on the mi croscopic level with a coarse and inhomogeneous electrode microstructu re and on the microscopic level with a wide contact spacing of the cur rent collectors. Microstructure tailoring as well as the current colle ctor geometry becomes important with decreasing operation temperature of the fuel cells.