Solid Oxide Electrochemical Devices Having a Dimensionally Stable Bonding Agent to Bond an Anode to Anode Interconnect and Methods

A method for mechanically and physically bonding an anode and an anode interconnect to be used in a solid oxide electrochemical device comprising:

• applying a bonding agent between an anode and an anode interconnect so that the bonding agent is in contact with the anode and the anode interconnect, the bonding agent comprising a vehicle and a particulate metal dispersed in the vehicle;
• heating the anode, the bonding agent, and the anode interconnect in a gaseous environment containing an oxidizing agent to a first temperature effective to burn off the vehicle from the bonding agent;
• introducing the anode, the bonding agent, and the anode interconnect at a second temperature to a gaseous environment containing a reducing agent to reduce oxides which formed in the gaseous environment containing the oxidizing agent, wherein the second temperature is equal to or greater than the first temperature;
• and
• heating the anode, the bonding agent and the anode interconnect to a third temperature to bond the bonding agent to the anode and the anode interconnect in-situ, wherein the third temperature is equal to or greater than the second temperature, and
• wherein the bonding agent is electrically conductive and substantially chemically inert during operation of the solid oxide electrochemical device.