Current Collectors for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stacks
AssigneeNexTech Materials, Ltd.
InventorsMichael J. Day, Scott L. Swartz, Matthew M. Seabaugh, Paul H. Matter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sulfur tolerant anode current collector material includes a mesh or foam that includes a cermet. The cermet includes a metallic component and a ceramic component. The metallic component includes nickel, an alloy including nickel and cobalt, or a mixture including a nickel compound and a cobalt compound. The ceramic component includes a mixed conducting electrolyte material.
Claims20
A sulfur tolerant anode current collector material, comprising:
- a mesh or foam comprising a cermet, wherein the cermet comprises a metallic component and a ceramic component, the metallic component comprises nickel, an alloy including nickel and cobalt, or a mixture including a nickel compound and a cobalt compound, and wherein the ceramic component comprises a mixed conducting electrolyte material.
A solid oxide fuel cell for use with a reducing gas, the solid oxide fuel cell comprising:
- a cathode layer;
- a ceramic electrolyte layer positioned adjacent the cathode layer;
- an anode layer positioned adjacent the ceramic electrolyte layer;
- and
- a sulfur tolerant anode current collector layer positioned adjacent the anode layer;
- wherein the sulfur tolerant anode current collector layer comprises a mesh or foam comprising a cermet, wherein the cermet comprises a metallic component and a ceramic component, the metallic component comprises nickel, an alloy including nickel and cobalt, or a mixture including nickel and cobalt compounds, and wherein the ceramic component comprises a mixed conducting electrolyte material.
A solid oxide fuel cell for use with a reducing gas, the solid oxide fuel cell comprising:
- a cathode layer;
- a ceramic electrolyte layer positioned adjacent the cathode layer;
- an anode layer positioned adjacent the ceramic electrolyte layer;
- and
- a sulfur tolerant anode current collector layer positioned adjacent the anode layer;
- wherein the sulfur tolerant anode current collector layer comprises a cermet material that conducts electricity by transport of both electrons and oxygen ions.
A method of manufacturing an anode current collector mesh or foam, comprising the steps of:
- providing a powdered anode precursor that comprises a nickel oxide, a composition including nickel oxide and at least one other metal oxide, or a mixture thereof, wherein the at least one other metal oxide comprises cobalt oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, or a mixture thereof;
- providing a slurry of the powdered anode precursor and a ceramic material in a fluid;
- infiltrating the slurry into a polymeric reticulated mesh or foam to produce an infiltrated mesh or foam;
- calcining the infiltrated mesh or foam to produce a calcined material;
- sintering the calcined material to produce a sintered material;
- and
- reducing the sintered material in the presence of hydrogen or a reducing gas mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.