# US 10,873,096 B2 · Solid-oxide cell, cell stack device and module, and module housing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,096 B2 - Document ID: US10873096B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/780,656 - Filed: 2014-03-18 - Published: 2016-03-03 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-28 - Assignees: KYOCERA Corporation - Applicants: KYOCERA Corporation - Inventors: Masashi Kawakami - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873096B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes} - C25B 9/00: Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features - H01M 8/0202: Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors - H01M 8/023: Porous and characterised by the material - H01M 8/0247: characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258) - H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence) - H01M 8/12: operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte - H01M 8/1246: the electrolyte consisting of oxides - H01M 8/243: Grouping of unit cells of tubular or cylindrical configuration - H01M 8/2457: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised - H01M 8/2485: Arrangements for sealing external manifolds; Arrangements for mounting external manifolds around a stack - H01M 2008/1293: {Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes} - H01M 2300/0074: Ion conductive at high temperature - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A solid-oxide cell includes a porous substrate and an element part. The porous substrate has a long shape in a longitudinal direction and includes a first main surface, a second main surface, a first side surface, a second side surface and a gas-flow passage. The second main surface faces the first main surface. The second side surface faces the first side surface. The first and the second side surfaces connect the first main surface to the second main surface. The gas-flow passage extends in the longitudinal direction. The element part is provided on the first main surface and includes a first electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer and a second electrode layer. A thickness at an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the porous substrate is greater than a thickness at a center portion in the longitudinal direction of the porous substrate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solid-oxide cell, comprising: a porous substrate comprising a first main surface, a second main surface opposite the first main surface, a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, the first side surface and the second side surface connecting the first main surface to the second main surface, and at least one gas-flow passage extending in a longitudinal direction through the porous substrate from a first end of the porous substrate to a second end of the porous substrate to form a tunnel, wherein the at least one gas-flow passage defines a first opening in the first end of the porous substrate and a second opening in the second end of the porous substrate, and wherein the porous substrate is flat in a cross-section along the longitudinal direction; and an element part provided on the first main surface of the porous substrate and comprising a first electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer; wherein, along the longitudinal direction and which passes through a center of the porous substrate, a thickness between the first main surface and the second main surface at both the first end and the second end of the porous substrate is greater than a thickness between the first main surface and the second main surface at the center of the porous substrate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A solid-oxide cell according to claim 1, wherein an inter-connector layer is provided on the second main surface of the porous substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A solid-oxide cell according to claim 1, wherein the porous substrate is electrically conductive. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A solid-oxide cell according to claim 1, wherein, along the longitudinal direction of the porous substrate, a width between the first side surface and the second side surface at both the first end and the second end of the porous substrate is greater than a width between the first side surface and the second side surface at the center of the porous substrate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A solid-oxide cell according to claim 1, wherein the thickness at both the first end and the second end of the porous substrate is not more than 1.03 times the thickness at the center of the porous substrate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A solid-oxide cell according to claim 4, wherein the width at both the first end and the second end of the porous substrate is not more than 1.02 times the width at the center of the porous substrate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A cell stack device connected to a gas tank, comprising an electrically connected plurality of solid-oxide cells described in claim 1, wherein an interior space of the gas tank communicates with the at least one gas-flow passage of the solid-oxide cell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A module, comprising: a storage container containing the solid-oxide cell described in claim 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A module housing device, comprising: an exterior casing containing the module described in claim 8 and an auxiliary device for operating the module. ### Claim 10 A solid-oxide cell, comprising: a porous substrate comprising a first main surface, a second main surface opposite the first main surface, a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, the first side surface and the second side surface connecting the first main surface to the second main surface, and at least one gas-flow passage extending in a longitudinal direction through the porous substrate from a first end of the porous substrate to a second end of the porous substrate to form a tunnel, wherein the at least one gas-flow passage defines a first opening in the first end of the porous substrate and a second opening in the second end of the porous substrate, and wherein the porous substrate is flat in a cross-section along the longitudinal direction; and a solid electrolyte layer provided on the first main surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface; and a second electrode layer provided on the solid electrolyte layer; wherein, along the longitudinal direction and which passes through a center of the porous substrate, a thickness between the first main surface and the second main surface at both the first end and the second end of the porous substrate is greater than a thickness between the first main surface and the second main surface at the center of the porous substrate. ### Claim 11 A solid-oxide cell, comprising: a porous substrate comprising a first main surface, a second main surface opposite the first main surface, a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, the first side surface and the second side surface connecting the first main surface to the second main surface, and at least one gas-flow passage extending in a longitudinal direction through the porous substrate from a first end of the porous substrate to a second end of the porous substrate to form a tunnel, wherein the at least one gas-flow passage defines a first opening in the first end of the porous substrate and a second opening in the second end of the porous substrate, and wherein the porous substrate is flat in a cross-section along the longitudinal direction; and an element part provided on the first main surface of the porous substrate and comprising a first electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer; wherein, along the longitudinal direction and which passes through a center of the porous substrate, a width between the first side surface and the second side surface at both the first end and the second end of the porous substrate is greater than a width between the first side surface and the second side surface at the center of the porous substrate.