Fabrication of Electrode Structures by Thermal Spraying
AssigneeThe University of British Columbia
InventorsOlivera Kesler, Nir Ben-Oved
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for the rapid production of electrode structures such as Cu-SDC anodes for use in direct oxidation solid oxide fuel cells involves co-depositing a copper-containing material and a ceramic by plasma spraying to form a coating on a substrate. Layers of CuO-SDC have been co-deposited by air plasma spraying, followed by in-situ reduction of the CuO to Cu in the anodes. Materials having catalytic properties, such as cobalt, may also be incorporated in the structures. Controlled compositional or microstructural gradients may be applied to optimize the microstructure and composition of the coatings.
Claims44
A method for making an electrode, the method comprising:
- thermal spraying onto a substrate a mixture comprising a copper-containing material and a second material having a melting temperature greater than a melting temperature of the copper-containing material to provide a coating on the substrate.
A method for forming a porous copper-containing coating on a substrate, the method comprising:
- providing a mixture of a first powder comprising the copper in an oxidized state with a second powder comprising a ceramic material;
- plasma spraying the mixture onto a substrate;
- and,
- subsequently reducing the copper to metallic copper in situ.
An anode for a fuel cell comprising a plurality of layers, the layers each comprising a mixture of a crystalline copper metal phase and a crystalline ceramic phase, the layers having differing compositions.
44-45. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.