High performance of ceramic current collector fabricated at 550 °C through in-situ joining of reduced Mn1.5Co1.5O4 for metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells.

A well-connected and high-porosity current collector layer fabricated at a low temperature of 550 °C is designed for metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Reduced Mn 1.5 Co 1.5 O 4 (MCO) powders are used as the binder through the reforming of MCO in the air atmosphere. A high conductivity phase La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3 (LSCF) is added to keep the porous frame microstructure and decease the ohmic polarization of the current collector layer. Three current collector layers are prepared: MCO, MCO/LSCF, and LSCF. The working state of each current collector layer in planar SOFC stack is reproduced by special experimental design; the performance is tested in the range of 550–750 °C. The results show that the current collector layer for SOFC is achieved at low temperatures using the reduction-oxidation properties of MCO, and the performance is improved by adding high conductivity phase LSCF. The gas distribution at the cathode side is also simulated for designing a high performance SOFC. • A high-porosity current collector layer is fabricated at 550°C. • The real working state of the current collector layer is reproduced. • The gas distribution is simulated for designing a current collector layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]