US 5,589,017 A · Preparation of a solid oxide fuel cell having thin electrolyte and interconnect layers

Abstract

A fuel cell is made by preparing a first unfired anode ceramic tape and a second unfired electrolyte ceramic tape, with the second ceramic tape being much thinner than the first ceramic tape. The first ceramic tape and the second ceramic tape are laminated together to form an unfired anode/electrolyte laminate, which is rolled to reduce the layer thicknesses. The anode layer is embossed with a gas flow path pattern. A third unfired cathode ceramic tape and a fourth unfired interconnect ceramic tape are prepared, with the fourth ceramic tape being much thinner than the third ceramic tape. The third ceramic tape and the fourth ceramic tape are laminated together to form an unfired cathode/interconnect laminate, which is rolled to reduce the layer thicknesses. The cathode layer is embossed with a gas flow pattern. The two laminates are sintered, stacked, and bonded in the appropriate pattern to form a fuel cell element.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of preparing a fuel cell, comprising the steps of:

preparing a first unfired ceramic tape comprising an anode material;
preparing a second unfired ceramic tape comprising an electrolyte material, the second ceramic tape being thinner than the first ceramic tape;
laminating the first ceramic tape and the second ceramic tape together to form an unfired anode/electrolyte laminate;
preparing a third unfired ceramic tape comprising a cathode material;
preparing a fourth unfired ceramic tape comprising an interconnect material, the fourth ceramic tape being thinner than the third ceramic tape;
laminating the fourth ceramic tape and the third ceramic tape together to form an unfired cathode/interconnect laminate;
stacking the unfired anode/electrolyte laminate and the unfired cathode/interconnect laminate such that the second unfired ceramic tape is adjacent to the third unfired ceramic tape;
and
fabricating the unfired anode/electrolyte laminate and the unfired cathode/interconnect laminate into a fuel cell.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Preparation of a solid oxide fuel cell having thin electrolyte and interconnect layers

Life of this patent

Preparation of a solid oxide fuel cell having thin electrolyte and interconnect layers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12