Fabrication of micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells using sulfur-free polymer binder via a phase inversion method

Three sulfur-free polymer binders (ethyl cellulose (EC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyetherimide (PEI)) and sulfur-containing polyethersulfone (PESO polymer binder were used to fabricate NiO -BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-delta (BZCYYb) anode substrates. The overall influence of polymer binder on the anode supports was evaluated. Sulfide impurity in the anode substrate was identified when sulfur-containing PESf was used as the polymer binder. Single cells based on different anode supports were characterized in anode-supported MT-SOFCs with the cell configuration of Ni-BZCYYb anode, BZCYYb proton-conducting electrolyte and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-delta (LSCF)-BZCYYb cathode at 650 degrees C, 600 degrees C and 550 degrees C, using humidified hydrogen as fuel and ambient air as oxidant. MT-SOFCs of the anode fabricated using PEI show maximum power density of 0.45 Wcm(-2), 0.34 Wcm(-2) and 0.23 Wcm(-2) at 650 degrees C, 600 degrees C and 550 degrees C respectively, compared with 0.35 Wcm(-2), 0.27 Wcm(-2) and 0.18 Wcm(-2) for cells fabricated with PESE The difference in cell performance was attributed to the phase purity of the anode fabricated by different polymer binders. Sulfur-free polymer binder PEI exhibits advantages over the commonly applied PESf and other sulfur-free polymer binders, pointing to a new direction in the fabrication of micro-tubular oxide substrates for energy conversion and storage. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.