Direct-write fabrication of solid oxide fuel cells

Line-shaped solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with a multilayered structure have been fabricated using the direct-writing process. Partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) substrate with sufficient mechanical strength and gas permeability was used as a support for SOFC. The cell comprises the single line-shaped electrode and electrolyte of Ni-YSZ cermet anode, YSZ electrolyte, and LSM cathode. A syringe filled with electrolyte paste and each electrode was loaded into the computer-controlled robo-dispensing machine and the paste dispensed onto a moving plate through a 0.21 mm diameter cylindrical nozzle under a pressure of 0.1 torr. The effective reaction area of fabricated SOFC was 0.03 cm², and the thicknesses of anode, electrolyte, and cathode were 20 μm, 15 um and 10 μm, respectively. The single line-shaped SOFC fabricated by the directwriting process exhibited OCV of 0.95 V and maximum power density of 0.35W/cm² at 810°C.