Single-Chamber Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology—From Its Origins to Today’s State of the Art

In single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells (SC-SOFCs), both anode and cathode are situated in a common gas chamber and are exposed to a mixture of fuel and oxidant. The working principle is based on the difference in catalytic activity of the electrodes for the respective anodic and cathodic reactions. The resulting difference in oxygen partial pressure between the electrodes leads to the generation of an open circuit voltage. Progress in SC-SOFC technology has enabled the generation of power outputs comparable to those of conventional SOFCs. This paper provides a detailed review of the development of SC-SOFC technology.

[1]  Zongping Shao,et al.  Activation of a single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell by a simple catalyst-assisted in-situ process , 2009 .

[2]  Zongping Shao,et al.  Recent advances in single-chamber fuel-cells: Experiment and modeling , 2006 .

[3]  Bo Wei,et al.  A novel design of single-chamber SOFC micro-stack operated in methane–oxygen mixture , 2009 .

[4]  Jong-Ho Lee,et al.  Numerical modeling of micro single-chamber ceria-based SOFC , 2006 .

[5]  K. Asano,et al.  A Novel Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System Using the Partial Oxidation of Methane , 1995 .

[6]  K. Asano,et al.  STUDIES ON SOLID ELECTROLYTES FOR A NEW-TYPE SOFC USING METHANE-AIR MIXTURE , 1996 .

[7]  Ludwig J. Gauckler,et al.  Thermodynamic Equilibrium of Single-Chamber SOFC Relevant Methane–Air Mixtures , 2006 .

[8]  F. Doğan,et al.  Single Chamber Electrolyte Supported SOFC Module , 2004 .

[9]  M. Meunier,et al.  Evaluation of the Actual Working Temperature of A Single-Chamber SOFC , 2004 .

[10]  Scott A. Barnett,et al.  Operation of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells on propane–air fuel mixtures , 2004 .

[11]  T. Hibino,et al.  A Single‐Chamber SOFC Stack: Energy Recovery from Engine Exhaust , 2008 .

[12]  P. Shen,et al.  Selective Cathode Catalysts for Mixed‐reactant Alkaline Alcohol Fuel Cells , 2006 .

[13]  Z. Lü,et al.  Anode-Supported Micro-SOFC Stacks Operated under Single-Chamber Conditions , 2007 .

[14]  T. Hibino,et al.  Simplification of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System Using Partial Oxidation of Methane , 1993 .

[15]  Zongping Shao,et al.  Initialization of a methane-fueled single-chamber solid-oxide fuel cell with NiO + SDC anode and BSCF + SDC cathode , 2008 .

[16]  L. Schmidt,et al.  Comparison of monolith-supported metals for the direct oxidation of methane to syngas , 1994 .

[17]  Piotr Jasinski,et al.  Performance of a Porous Electrolyte in Single-Chamber SOFCs , 2005 .

[18]  Zongping Shao,et al.  High power-density single-chamber fuel cells operated on methane , 2006 .

[19]  S. Piñol.  Stable Single-Chamber Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Based on Doped Ceria Electrolytes and La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 as a New Cathode , 2006 .

[20]  A. J. Murrell,et al.  Selective oxidation of methane to synthesis gas using transition metal catalysts , 1990, Nature.

[21]  Takashi Hibino,et al.  An Intermediate-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Providing Higher Performance with Hydrocarbons than with Hydrogen , 2002 .

[22]  S. Chuang,et al.  Investigating the CH4 reaction pathway on a novel LSCF anode catalyst in the SOFC , 2009 .

[23]  Zongping Shao,et al.  A high-performance cathode for the next generation of solid-oxide fuel cells , 2010 .

[24]  K. Asano,et al.  Improvement of CAPCIUS Cell Using SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3−α as a Solid Electrolyte , 1994 .

[25]  C. Hwang,et al.  Fabrication of Gd2O3-Doped CeO2 Thin Films for Single-Chamber-Type Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and Their Characterization , 2009 .

[26]  Z. Lü,et al.  Enhanced performance of a single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell with an SDC-impregnated cathode , 2007 .

[27]  Jonghee Han,et al.  Fabrication of an Anode-Supported Sofc with a Sol-Gel Coating Method for a Mixed-Gas Fuel Cell , 2004 .

[28]  H. Tuller,et al.  Fabrication and structural characterization of interdigitated thin film La1 − xSrxCoO3(LSCO) electrodes , 2006 .

[29]  Norma Amadeo,et al.  Methane partial oxidation using Ni/Ce0.9Zr0.1O2 catalysts , 2008 .

[30]  Takao Inoue,et al.  A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Using an Exothermic Reaction as the Heat Source , 2001 .

[31]  Jürgen Fleig,et al.  Electrodes and electrolytes in micro-SOFCs: a discussion of geometrical constraints , 2004 .

[32]  I. Metcalfe,et al.  La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 as the anode and cathode for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells , 2000 .

[33]  M. Meunier,et al.  Catalytic activity and performance of LSM cathode materials in single chamber SOFC , 2007 .

[34]  A. Roosen,et al.  Reaction Kinetics and Mechanisms between La0.65Sr0.3MnO3 and 8 mol% Yttria‐Stabilized Zirconia , 2004 .

[35]  Takao Inoue,et al.  Single‐Chamber Solid Oxide Fuel Cells at Intermediate Temperatures with Various Hydrocarbon‐Air Mixtures , 2000 .

[36]  H. Iwahara.  A one-chamber solid electrolyte fuel cell for chemical cogeneration , 1998 .

[37]  Keith Scott,et al.  A mixed-reactants solid-polymer-electrolyte direct methanol fuel cell , 2004 .

[38]  J. Schoonman,et al.  Solid oxide fuel cells operating on uniform mixtures of fuel and air , 1995 .

[39]  T. Hibino,et al.  New concept for simplifying SOFC system , 1996 .

[40]  Jamie D. Holladay,et al.  Radiolytic microscale power generation based on single chamber fuel cell operation , 2007 .

[41]  M. Sano,et al.  Single-Chamber SOFCs Using Dimethyl Ether and Ethanol , 2007 .

[42]  M. Meunier,et al.  Temperature and performance variations along single chamber solid oxide fuel cells , 2009 .

[43]  K. Kendall,et al.  Mixed-reactant, micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells: An experimental study , 2009 .

[44]  Thomas F. Fuller,et al.  Mixed-reactant, strip-cell direct methanol fuel cells , 2001 .

[45]  R. Rosenfeld.  Nature , 2009, Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

[46]  M. Meunier,et al.  Experimental Study of Current Collection in Single-Chamber Micro Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with Comblike Electrodes , 2008 .

[47]  Ilan Riess,et al.  The significance of impeded reactions in solid state electrochemistry , 2005 .

[48]  M. Meunier,et al.  Direct-Write Microfabrication of Single-Chamber Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with Interdigitated Electrodes , 2006 .

[49]  Young-Hag Koh,et al.  Design and fabrication of three-dimensional solid oxide fuel cells , 2006 .

[50]  Satoshi Tanimoto,et al.  Improvement of a single-chamber solid-oxide fuel cell and evaluation of new cell designs , 2000 .

[51]  Takashi Hibino,et al.  Recent advances in single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells: A review , 2007 .

[52]  Jong-Ho Lee,et al.  Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell with micropatterned interdigitated electrodes , 2005 .

[53]  M. Meunier,et al.  Direct-write microfabrication of single-chamber micro solid oxide fuel cells , 2007 .

[54]  Jooho Moon,et al.  Phase stability of Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3 cathodes for on-planar type, single-chamber, solid oxide fuel cells , 2009 .

[55]  Zongping Shao,et al.  A comparative study of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 and La0.8Sr0.2Sc0.1Mn0.9O3 as cathode materials of single-chamber SOFCs operating on a methane-air mixture , 2009 .

[56]  Jooho Moon,et al.  Direct-write fabrication of integrated planar solid oxide fuel cells , 2006 .

[57]  David G. Goodwin,et al.  Numerical Study of Heterogeneous Reactions in an SOFC Anode With Oxygen Addition , 2007, ECS Transactions.

[58]  G. Meng,et al.  Non-conventional fuel cell systems: new concepts and development , 1999 .

[59]  Ümit Özgür Köylü,et al.  Effectiveness of Anode in a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell with Hydrogen/Oxygen Mixed Gases , 2009 .

[60]  Takashi Hibino,et al.  Single Chamber Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Constructed from an Yttria‐Stabilized Zirconia Electrolyte , 1999 .

[61]  M. Sano,et al.  High Performance Anodes for SOFCs Operating in Methane-Air Mixture at Reduced Temperatures , 2002 .

[62]  T. Hibino,et al.  A novel cell design for simplifying SOFC system , 1995 .

[63]  H. Tuller,et al.  Electrical and electrochemical characterization of microstructured thin film La1−xSrxCoO3 electrodes , 2006 .

[64]  T. Hibino,et al.  A Single-Chamber SOFC Stack Operating in Engine Exhaust , 2008 .

[65]  P. Jasiński.  Micro solid oxide fuel cells and their fabrication methods , 2008 .

[66]  S. Gottesfeld,et al.  Thin-film fuel cells , 1990, Nature.

[67]  A. Demin,et al.  Zirconia-based SOFC with non-noble electrodes fed by air-methane mixture , 2000 .

[68]  Ilan Riess,et al.  On the single chamber solid oxide fuel cells , 2008 .

[69]  D. Freude.  Fuel Cells and Their Applications , 1997 .

[70]  Jong-Ho Lee,et al.  Co-planar type single chamber solid oxide fuel cell with micro-patterned electrodes , 2006 .

[71]  M. Meunier,et al.  Single-chamber micro solid oxide fuel cells: Study of anode and cathode materials in coplanar electrode design , 2010 .

[72]  M. Meunier,et al.  Coplanar Electrodes Design for a Single-Chamber SOFC Assessment of the Operating Parameters , 2007 .

[73]  K. Kendall,et al.  Structural stability of silver under single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell conditions , 2009 .

[74]  N. Sakai,et al.  Hydrogen solubility in Pr-doped and un-doped YSZ for a one chamber fuel cell , 1998 .

[75]  Ferran Espiell,et al.  Low temperature anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells based on gadolinium doped ceria electrolytes , 2007 .

[76]  M. Segarra,et al.  Intermediate temperature single-chamber methane fed SOFC based on Gd doped ceria electrolyte and La0.5Sr0.5CoO3−δ as cathode , 2009 .

[77]  D. Therriault,et al.  Viscoelastic Inks for Direct-Write Microfabrication of Single-Chamber Micro Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with Coplanar Thick Electrodes , 2009 .

[78]  Piotr Jasinski,et al.  Impedance spectroscopy of single chamber SOFC , 2004 .

[79]  Michel Meunier,et al.  An Experimental Evaluation of the Temperature Gradient in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells , 2007 .

[80]  J. Schoonman,et al.  Supported mixed-gas fuel cells , 2002 .

[81]  Hyoungchul Kim,et al.  Catalytic Characteristics of Perovskite-type Oxides under Mixed Methane and Oxygen Gases , 2008 .

[82]  Zongping Shao,et al.  Anode-supported thin-film fuel cells operated in a single chamber configuration 2T-I-12 , 2004 .

[83]  C. Chung,et al.  Performance characteristics of micro single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell: Computational analysis , 2006 .

[84]  D. Fish,et al.  Compact mixed-reactant fuel cells , 2002 .

[85]  Yong Hao,et al.  Efficiency and fuel utilization of methane-powered single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells , 2008 .

[86]  J. Viricelle,et al.  Development of a planar SOFC device using screen-printing technology , 2005 .

[87]  Xunli Zhang,et al.  Further Studies on Oscillations over Nickel Wires During the Partial Oxidation of Methane , 2003 .

[88]  Zongping Shao,et al.  A thermally self-sustained micro solid-oxide fuel-cell stack with high power density , 2005, Nature.

[89]  高橋 武彦,et al.  Science and technology of ceramic fuel cells , 1995 .

[90]  Danick Briand,et al.  Compatibility of screen-printing technology with micro-hotplate for gas sensor and solid oxide micro fuel cell development , 2006 .

[91]  Daniel Loghin,et al.  A three-dimensional numerical model of a single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell , 2009 .

[92]  Zongping Shao,et al.  A Thermally Self-Sustaining Miniature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell , 2004 .

[93]  M. Sano,et al.  Comparative Performance of Anode-Supported SOFCs Using a Thin Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 Electrolyte with an Incorporated BaCe0.8Y0.2O3 − α Layer in Hydrogen and Methane , 2006 .

[94]  Z. Lü,et al.  Study on impedance spectra of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 and Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9-impregnated La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 cathode in single chamber fuel cell condition , 2009 .

[95]  Kevin Kendall,et al.  Cell temperature measurements in micro-tubular, single-chamber, solid oxide fuel cells (MT–SC–SOFCs) , 2010 .

[96]  M. Sano,et al.  A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell with a Novel Geometry That Eliminates the Need for Preparing a Thin Electrolyte Film , 2002 .

[97]  James Larminie,et al.  Fuel Cell Systems Explained , 2000 .

[98]  L. Gauckler,et al.  Influence of anode thickness on the electrochemical performance of single chamber solid oxide fuel cells , 2008 .

[99]  Z. Lü,et al.  Effect of the Cell Distance on the Cathode in Single Chamber SOFC Short Stack , 2009 .

[100]  S. Basu,et al.  Room-temperature hydrogen sensors based on ZnO , 1997 .

[101]  Keith Scott,et al.  Advances in Mixed‐Reactant Fuel Cells , 2005 .

[102]  I. Riess.  Significance of impeded reactions in solid state electrochemistry-Conspicuous examples , 2006 .

[103]  I. Stefan,et al.  Single chamber fuel cells: Flow geometry, rate and composition considerations , 2003 .

[104]  S. Nam,et al.  Mixed-Fuels Fuel Cell Running on Methane-Air Mixture , 2005 .

[105]  Tzu-hui Wu,et al.  Thin porous Ni–YSZ films as anodes for a solid oxide fuel cell , 2008 .

[106]  Single-Chamber SOFCs with a Ce0.9Gd0.1 O 1.95 Electrolyte Film for Low-Temperature Operation , 2005 .

[107]  R. O. Fuentes,et al.  Catalytic Behavior of PdO/NiO/SDC Composites for Partial Oxidation of Methane : Application as Anodes of Single-Chamber IT-SOFCs , 2009 .

[108]  Sano,et al.  A low-operating-temperature solid oxide fuel cell in hydrocarbon-Air mixtures , 2000, Science.

[109]  J. Lunsford,et al.  Partial oxidation of methane to carbon monoxide and hydrogen over a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst , 1991 .

[110]  L. Gauckler,et al.  From macro- to micro-single chamber solid oxide fuel cells , 2007 .

[111]  Shuqiang Wang,et al.  One-chamber solid oxide fuel cell constructed from a YSZ electrolyte with a Ni anode and LSM cathode , 2000 .

[112]  M. G. Zabetakis.  Flammability characteristics of combustible gases and vapors , 1964 .

[113]  Jooho Moon,et al.  Vacuum‐Assisted Microfluidic Lithography of Ceramic Microstructures , 2005 .

[114]  M. Meunier,et al.  Miniaturization limits for single-chamber micro-solid oxide fuel cells with coplanar electrodes , 2009 .

[115]  E. Traversa,et al.  Cathode Performance of Nanostructured La1 − a Sr a Co1 − b Fe b O3 − x on a Ce0.8Sm0.2O2 Electrolyte Prepared by Citrate-Nitrate Autocombustion , 2007 .

[116]  Jack E. Thompson.  Generation of Electrical Energy , 2010 .

[117]  David G. Goodwin,et al.  Numerical Modeling of Single-Chamber SOFCs with Hydrocarbon Fuels , 2007 .

[118]  W. Vielstich.  Fuel cells : modern processes for the electrochemical production of energy , 1970 .

[119]  L. Gauckler,et al.  Single chamber solid oxide fuel cells with integrated current-collectors , 2005 .

[120]  V. Korchak,et al.  Dynamic behaviour of Ni-containing catalysts during partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas , 2004 .

[121]  A. Roosen,et al.  Reaction Kinetics and Mechanisms between La 0 . 65 Sr 0 . 3 MnO 3 and 8 mol % Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia , 2004 .

[122]  Michel Meunier,et al.  Fabrication and testing of coplanar single-chamber micro solid oxide fuel cells with geometrically complex electrodes , 2008 .

[123]  J. Schoonman,et al.  A novel Ni-CERMET electrode based on a proton conducting electrolyte , 2001 .

[124]  T. Rojo,et al.  Development of electrolyte-supported intermediate-temperature single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells using Ln0.7Sr0.3Fe0.8Co0.2O3−δ (Ln = Pr, La, Gd) cathodes , 2009 .

[125]  Y. Shiratori,et al.  Study of high voltage single chamber SOFC with series connected cells I. IV-IP characteristics of two segments cell , 2001 .

[126]  Lanny D. Schmidt,et al.  The water-gas-shift reaction at short contact times , 2004 .

[127]  P. Moseley,et al.  Sensing reducing gases , 1990, Nature.

[128]  T. Ishihara,et al.  Partial Oxidation of Methane into Syngas with Oxygen Permeating Ceramic Membrane Reactors , 2001 .

[129]  E. E. L O G A N,et al.  Power Densities Using Different Cathode Catalysts (Pt and CoTMPP) and Polymer Binders (Nafion and PTFE) in Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells , 2022 .

[130]  F. Doğan,et al.  Role of Composite Cathodes in Single Chamber SOFC , 2004 .

[131]  V. Choudhary,et al.  Selective oxidation of methane to CO and H2 over unreduced NiO-rare earth oxide catalysts , 1993 .

[132]  K. Asano,et al.  Improvement of CAPCIUS Cell Using SrCe_ Yb_ O_ as a Solid Electrolyte , 1994 .

[133]  Jong-Ho Lee,et al.  Influence of patterned electrode geometry on performance of co-planar, single-chamber, solid oxide fuel cell , 2007 .

[134]  T. Hibino,et al.  Room-Temperature Hydrogen Sensors Based on an In3 + -Doped SnP2O7 Proton Conductor , 2007 .

[135]  R. E. English,et al.  Nuclear-electric systems in space , 1958 .

[136]  Michel Meunier,et al.  Operating Conditions of a Single-Chamber SOFC , 2004 .