# US 2009/0260223 A1 · Solid Oxide Electrochemical Devices Having a Dimensionally Stable Bonding Agent to Bond an Anode to Anode Interconnect and Methods

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- Number: US 2009/0260223 A1
- Document ID: US20090260223A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/493,731
- Filed: 2009-06-29
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2005-12-12
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Atul Kumar Verma; Shekhar Shripad Kamat
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260223A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/0273: with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
- H01M 8/0282: Inorganic material
- H01M 8/0217: Complex oxides, optionally doped, of the type AMO3, A being an alkaline earth metal or rare earth metal and M being a metal, e.g. perovskites
- H01M 8/0247: characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258)
- H01M 2008/1293: {Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y10T 29/49114: including adhesively bonding
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A solid oxide electrochemical device having improved mechanical integrity comprising a bonding agent for physically and electrically bonding an anode to an anode interconnect, the bonding agent comprising a particulate metal, wherein the bonding agent is substantially chemically inert during operation of the solid oxide electrochemical device. A method for bonding an anode and an anode interconnect to be used in a solid oxide electrochemical device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the third temperature ranges from about 700° C. to about 1000° C.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the third temperature ranges from about 800° C. to about 900° C.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is oxygen.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first temperature is less than about 500° C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the reducing agent is hydrogen.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the gaseous environment containing a reducing agent contains hydrogen an amount of about 3% to about 100% hydrogen by volume of the gaseous environment.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second temperature is greater than about 500° C.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the bonding agent comprises screen printing or pneumatic paste dispensing the bonding agent.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate metal comprises nickel or cobalt.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle, before the step of heating the anode, the bonding agent, and the anode interconnect in a gaseous environment containing an oxidizing agent, comprises an organic material and the step of heating the anode, the bonding agent, and the anode interconnect in a gaseous environment containing an oxidizing agent carbonizes substantially all of the organic material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of in claim 11, wherein the organic material comprises a polymeric material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the polymeric material is polyvinylbutyral or an ethyl cellulose.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the bonding agent further comprises a particulate filler material which is substantially chemically inert during operation of the solid oxide electrochemical device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the particulate filler material comprises a ceramic material.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the ceramic material is yttria-stabilized zirconia or alumina.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate metal is present in the bonding agent, before the step of heating the anode, the bonding agent, and the anode interconnect in a gaseous environment containing an oxidizing agent, in an amount ranging from about 20% by volume of the bonding agent to about 60% by volume of the bonding agent.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate metal is present in the bonding agent, before the step of heating the anode, the bonding agent, and the anode interconnect in a gaseous environment containing an oxidizing agent, in an amount ranging from about 30% by volume of the bonding agent to about 40% by volume of the bonding agent.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle, before the step of heating the anode, the bonding agent, and the anode interconnect in a gaseous environment containing an oxidizing agent, comprises a binder, a dispersant, a solvent, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the bonding agent further comprises a particulate filler material which is substantially chemically inert during operation of the solid oxide electrochemical device.