Reference #: 01183
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for the fabrication of highly controlled barrier coatings on solid oxide fuel cell cathodes powders to reduce migration of cations to the surface of the sintered cathode.
Invention Description:
The subject invention describes the use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) to deposit a uniform layer of oxide-based ceramic films with dual conductivity on solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathode powders. The powders are then sintered to form a cathode with improved properties. The dual conductivity characteristics of oxide-based ceramic films fabricated in this manner prevent cations from migrating in the SOFC cathode powders in addition to providing other performance enhancing attributes.
Potential Applications:
Advantages and Benefits:
Surface modification after sintering has been shown to improve performance and the stability of fabricated cathodes. Likewise, utilizing the dual conducting properties of materials with both ionic and electronic conduction mechanisms has also been show to produce highly controllable surface layers.
Background:
SOFC technology represents an efficient means to utilize a variety of fossil fuels, with exceptional promise for reduced carbon footprint. Although commercial systems are starting to be deployed, significant improvements are still needed. Widespread adoption of SOFCs requires improvements in long-term reliability on the order of 5-7 times the current degradation rate per 1000 hours of operation. Surface modification after sintering has been shown to improve performance and the stability of fabricated cathodes. Similarly, utilizing the dual conducting properties of materials with both ionic and electronic conduction mechanisms has also been shown to produce highly controllable surface layers.