Hexis Ag

Sulzer Metco (us) Inc.

Sulzer Hexis Ag

Andreas Franz-Josef Kaiser

Emad Batawi

Gilles Robert

Kaspar Honegger

Scott Wilson

The structured body intended for use for an anode () in fuel cells, includes a structure formed by macro-pores and an electrode material. The macro-pores form communicating spaces which are produced by using pore forming materials. The electrode material includes skeleton-like or net-like connected structures of particles which are connected by sintering and which form two reticular systems which interengage: a first reticular system made of ceramic material and a second reticular system which contains metals to effect an electrical conductivity. The electrode material has the properties so that, with a multiple change between oxidizing and reducing conditions, substantially no major property changes occur in the ceramic reticular system, and an oxidization or reduction of the metals occurs in the second reticular system.

Structured body for an anode used in fuel cells

Porous structured body for a fuel cell anode

Anode material for a fuel cell which is to be operated at a high temperature above 700&#xb0; C., which anode material is a porous composite material with a heterogeneous phase of solid materials which is formed by two reticular systems which penetrate each other in interlaced manner of particles connected by sintering, namely a first reticular system of ceramic material, and also a second reticular system of metallic material for the purpose of bringing about redox processes and an electrical conductivity, characterized in that the first reticular system is composed of large and small ceramic particles () with average diameters dgreater than 5 &#x3bc;m or smaller than 1 &#x3bc;m respectively, in that 50% to 80% of the first reticular system is formed from the large ceramic particles (), and in that a composition of the anode material to be used is given by values which are selected by means of samples of this material and a test method, wherein the test method includes at least one redox cycle, an irreversible change in length of the selected sample adopting in this a value smaller than 0.002, preferably smaller than 0.0005, and the following measurements and evaluations being carried out per redox cycle at a temperature which is at least the same as the operating temperature of the fuel cell:

Anode material for a high temperature fuel cell

The porous, gas permeable layer substructure () for a thin, gas tight layer () can in particular be used as a functional component in high temperature fuel cells (). This layer substructure has a smooth surface () which is suitable for an application of the gas tight layer or a multi-layer system including the gas tight layer, with the application being carried out by means of a screen printing method or other coating methods. The smooth surface is formed by a compacted edge zone (). The edge zone and a carrier structure () adjacent to this are made from sinterable particles of a uniform substance mixture. The porosity of the carrier structure is greater than 30 volume percent, preferably greater than 40 volume percent. The pore size of the edge zone is smaller than 10 &#x3bc;m, preferably smaller than 3 &#x3bc;m.

Porous, gas permeable layer substructure for a thin, gas tight layer for use as a functional component in high temperature fuel cells

The flow machine is furnished with an abradable () made of a particle composite material. This so-called composite () contains granular core particles () of a ceramic material. The surfaces () of the granular core particles carry functional layers () which form an intermediate phase of the composite which is stable at a high operating temperature. The intermediate phase in this process has been produced in situ at least in part by a chemical reaction of a precursor material (') and material () of the granular core particles on the particle surfaces (). Bonds () are formed between the granular core particles arranged in a porous composite by the intermediate phase. These bonds have a breaking characteristic for abradables.

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Elgg, Switzerland

Andreas Franz-Josef Kaiser