Engineered glass seals for solid-oxide fuel cells

A fuel cell, comprising:

• an anode;
• a cathode;
• an electrolyte;
• and
• a glass seal, comprising a glass matrix having glass percolation therethrough and having a glass transition temperature below 650° C., and a deformable second phase material dispersed in the glass matrix.

A precursor for forming a seal for a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:

• a glass matrix having glass percolation therethrough and having a glass transition temperature below 650° C.;
• a second phase material dispersed in the glass matrix;
• and
• a binder.

A method of making a seal for a fuel cell comprising the steps of:

• applying a seal precursor comprising a glass matrix having glass percolation therethrough and having a glass transition temperature below 650° C., a second phase material dispersed in the glass matrix;
• and a binder;
• and
• applying pressure to the precursor such that the second phase material undergoes a deformation of at least 10%.