All ceramic structure for molten carbonate fuel cell
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsJames L. Smith, Eugenia H. Kucera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An all-ceramic molten carbonate fuel cell having a composition formed of a multivalent metal oxide or oxygenate such as an alkali metal, transition metal oxygenate. The structure includes an anode and cathode separated by an electronically conductive interconnect. The electrodes and interconnect are compositions ceramic materials. Various combinations of ceramic compositions for the anode, cathode and interconnect are disclosed. The fuel cell exhibits stability in the fuel gas and oxidizing environments. It presents reduced sealing and expansion problems in fabrication and has improved long-term corrosion resistance.
Claims11
A molten carbonate fuel cell comprising:
- a sequential arrangement of an anode layer, an interconnect, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte in a repeating pattern, and wherein the anode, cathode, and interconnect are composed of ceramic compositions.
A molten carbonate fuel cell comprising:
- a sequential arrangement of an anode, an interconnect, a cathode, and an electrolyte in a repeating pattern, and wherein the anode, cathode, and interconnect are composed of ceramic compositions having the following formula:
- A.sub.x T.sub.y O.sub.z,
- where A is an alkali metal,
- T is a transition metal, and
- O is Oxygen,
- and x, y, and z are in non-stoichiometric relation, the compositions exhibiting substantially greater electrical conductivity due to the non-stoichiometry and the presence of a dopant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.