Preparation of membrane-electrode assemblies of solid oxide fuel cells by co-sintering of electrodes

The results of the development of procedures for forming membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) by co-sintering of electrodes and electrochemical tests of MEAs were described. Plates of Hionic™ material (Fuel Cell Materials, United States) with an area of 50 × 50 mm2 were used as a solid electrolyte membrane. The cathode layers were prepared from cation-deficient lanthanum-strontium manganite and the anion conductor 89 mol % ZrO2–10 mol % Sc2O3–1 mol % CeO2 (10Sc1CeSZ) with a carbon black addition for control over the microstructure. The anode layers were formed from the composite NiO/10Sc1CeSZ and by introducing rice starch as a pore-forming agent in the anode current-collecting layer. The thermal treatment mode was optimized based on thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscopy data and the results of testing the electrochemical characteristics of SOFCs to provide the formation of electrochemically active electrodes using one thermal cycle.