Electrolyte-electrode unit for solid-electrolyte fuel cell and process for the manufacture thereof

Abstract

Abstract METHOD AND APPARATUS TO IMPROVE A FUEL CELL OPERATING IN THE RANGE OF 800 TO 1100*C., THE GAS-IMPERMEABLE SOLID ELECTROLYTE PREFERABLY BEING FORMED OF STABILIZED ZIRCONIA WITH A SUITABLE METAL ANODE AND A CATHODE FORMED OF AT LEAST ONE LAYER OF DOPED INDIUM OXIDE AFFIXED TO THE ELECTTROLYTE. THE IMPROVEMENT CONSISTING OF HAVING THE DOPED INDIUM OXIDE LAYER FORMED WITH DENDRITES WHOSE PRINCIPAL AXES ARE AT LEAST APPROXIMATELY PERPENDICULAR TO THE SURFACE OF THE ELECTROLYTE WITH THE AXES FORMING TRUNKS HAVING A DIAMETER OF BETWEEN 500 AND 10,000 A., AO THAT SAID DOPED INDIUM OXIDE LAYER IS PERMEABLE TO GAS AND THE THICKNESS IS AT MOST EQUAL TO 0.02 CM. THE IMPROVEMENT ALSO INCLUDES THE METHODD OF OBTAINING SUCH DOPED INDIUM OXIDE LAYER WITH DENDRITES BY UTILIZING AN ELECTRON BEAM TO VAPORIZE A TARGET OF THE DOPED INDIUM OXIDE AND CONDENSE THE LATTER ON THE ELECTROLYTE WHICH HAS BEEN HEATED TO AT LEAST 300*C. UNDER TOTAL GAS PRESSURE OF BETWEEN 10**-6 AND 10**-2 MM. HG. A FURTHER IMPARTIAL PRESSURE OF AT LEAST 10**-6 MM. HG. A FURTHER IMPROVEMENT OF THE FOREGOING INCLUDES THE USE OF A CHROMITE LAYER BETWEEN THE ELECTROLYTE AND THE INDIUM OXIDE LAYER TO PREVENT THE DIFFUSION OF THE ONE INTO THE OTHER.

Inventors

• 👤 Den Berghe P Van
• 👤 H Tannenberger

Bibliographic Details