Roughened electrolyte interface layer for solid oxide fuel cells

A method of making an electrolyte structure with a roughened interfacial nano-crystalline layer, said method comprising:

• providing an electrolyte substrate;
• applying an interfacial nano-crystalline layer onto at least one surface of the electrolyte substrate;
• and
• sintering the interfacial layer.

A solid oxide fuel cell comprising:

• a positive air electrode;
• a negative fuel electrode;
• an electrolyte structure interposed between the positive air electrode and negative fuel electrode;
• and
• a roughened interfacial nano-crystalline layer interposed between the electrolyte structure and at least one of the positive air electrode and negative fuel electrode.

A solid oxide fuel cell comprising:

• a positive air electrode;
• a negative fuel electrode;
• an electrolyte structure interposed between the positive air electrode and negative fuel electrode, wherein the electrolyte structure is bonded to a plurality of electrodes on opposing sides of the electrolyte structure under conditions effective to produce at least two multiple cells connected in series or parallel and wherein the at least two multiple cell fuel cells are combined in an alternating fuel/air manifold wherein similar electrodes of adjacent multiple cell fuel cells face each other under conditions effective to form regions of air or fuel without additional gas separation or interconnection layers;
• and
• a roughened interfacial nano-crystalline layer interposed between the electrolyte structure and at least one of the positive air electrode and negative fuel electrode.

A method of making a solid oxide fuel cell comprising:

• providing an electrolyte substrate;
• applying at least one interfacial nano-crystalline layer onto at least one surface of the electrolyte substrate;
• sintering the at least one interfacial nano-crystalline layer;
• and
• applying at least one electrode layer to the at least one interfacial nano-crystalline layer.