Method and apparatus for electrostatic spray deposition for a solid oxide fuel cell
AssigneeIllinois Institute of Technology
InventorsJan Robert Selman, Hiroshi Nomura, Said Al Hallaj
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) for fabricating a thin-layer yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte on a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode substrate constructed of nickel-YSZ cermet. By reducing the thickness of the electrolyte, and thereby reducing the cell internal IR drop, an intermediate temperature SOFC (ITSOFC) can operate at 600–800° C. A collar positioned at a distance from a discharge end of a spray nozzle enhances a spray pattern of a precursor including the electrolyte material and thus provides a very thin electrolyte layer.
Claims21
A method for electrostatic spray deposition of an electrolyte material on a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
- forming a solution or suspension including at least one of a precursor and a particulate of the electrolyte material;
- discharging the solution into an electrostatic field through an opening of a nozzle having a collar encircling the nozzle and positioned at a distance upstream from a discharge end of the nozzle, with respect to a downstream flow direction of the solution;
- altering an electrostatic field associated with a solution spray angle with the collar;
- and
- spraying the solution onto a substrate anode surface of the solid oxide fuel cell.
A method for electrostatic spray deposition of an electrolyte material on a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
- forming a solution or suspension including at least one of a precursor and a particulate of the electrolyte material;
- discharging the solution into an electrostatic field through an opening of a nozzle having a collar disposed at least partially around the nozzle and positioned at a distance upstream from a discharge end of the nozzle, with respect to a downstream flow direction of the solution;
- altering an electrostatic field associated with a spray pattern of the solution discharged from the nozzle with the collar;
- and
- spraying the solution onto a substrate anode surface of the solid oxide fuel cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.