Compliant sealants for solid oxide fuel cells and other ceramics

A solid oxide fuel cell for electrochemically reacting a fuel gas with a flowing oxidant gas at an elevated temperature in producing a DC output voltage, said solid oxide fuel cell comprising a plurality of generally planar conductive sheets of thin layers of ceramic anode and cathode materials and a thin layer of ceramic ion conducting electrolyte disposed therebetween, wherein said ceramics include manganite and zirconias, a glass or glass-ceramic sealant for connecting adjacent sheets, said sealant having a coefficient of thermal expansion in the range of from about 8 to about 13.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. having a composition of SrO present in the range of from about 5 to about 60 mole %, La.sub.2 O.sub.3 present in the range of from about 1 to about 45 mole %, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 present in the range from 0 to about 15 mole %, B.sub.2 O.sub.3 present in the range of from about 15 mole %, to about 80 mole %, and SiO.sub.2 present in the range of from 0 to about 40 mole %, wherein the material is a viscous fluid at cell operating temperatures of from about 600.degree. C. to about 1000.degree. C.

A solid oxide fuel cell for electrochemically reacting a fuel gas with a flowing oxidant gas at an elevated temperature in producing a DC output voltage, said solid oxide fuel cell comprising a plurality of generally planar conductive sheets of thin layers of ceramic anode and cathode materials and a thin layer of ceramic ion conducting electrolyte disposed therebetween, wherein said ceramics include manganite and zirconias, a glass or glass-ceramic sealant for connecting adjacent sheets, said sealant having a coefficient of thermal expansion in the range of from about 8 to about 13.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. having a composition of SrO present in the range of from about 5 to about 60 mole %, La.sub.2 O.sub.3 present in the range of from about 3 to about 45 mole %, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 present in the range from 0 to about 15 mole %, B.sub.2 O.sub.3 present in the range of from about 15 mole % to about 80 mole %, and SiO.sub.2 present in the range of from 0 to about 40 mole %, wherein the material is a viscous fluid at cell operating temperatures of from about 600.degree. C. to about 1000.degree. C.