Ngk Insulators, Inc.

Kiyoshi Okumura

Shigenori Ito

Shinji Kawasaki

Katsuki Yoshioka

Takashi Ryu

Mitsuru Hattori

Sota Shimizu

Keiji Matsuhiro

An electrochemical cell including at least one dense solid electrolyte body, at least two dense interconnectors for collecting current flowing the cell, cathodes and anodes, wherein the at least one dense solid electrolyte body and at least two dense interconnectors constitute a structural body, a plurality of first gas flow channels and a plurality of second gas flow channels both extend in a given direction, and are each defined and surrounded by a part of the at least one solid electrolyte body and a part of the at least two interconnectors, the anodes are formed on respective walls defined by a part of at least one solid electrolyte body and a part of at least two interconnectors and constituting the respective first gas flow channels, the cathodes are formed on respective walls defined by a part of at least one solid electrolyte body and a part of at least two interconnectors and constituting the respective second gas flow channels, every anode is opposed to an adjacent cathode or adjacent cathodes via a solid electrolyte body, and every cathode is opposed to an adjacent anode or adjacent anodes via a solid electrolyte body.

Electrochemical cell having gas flow channels surrounded by solid electrolyte and interconnector

An assembly structure for facilitating assembly of laminated cells, for reducing the possibility of gas leakage and for preventing the reduction of generating efficiency of cells due to the gas leakage is provided. A plate-shaped electrochemical cell made of a ceramic material with a through hole formed therein is held by a holding member. The holding member is made of a ceramic material having a planar main body with a protruded portion. A first supply hole for supplying a first gas and a second supply hole for supplying a second gas are formed in the holding member. The planar main body of the holding member has a first sealing surface against a first surface of the electrochemical cell while the protruded portion is inserted into the through hole.

Holding member for holding an electrochemical cell, a holding substrate for the same, an electrochemical system and a connecting member for electrochemical cells

The invention provides an assembly structure for facilitating assembly of laminated cells, for reducing the possibility of gas leakage and for preventing the reduction of generating efficiency of cells due to gas leakage. In a disclosed embodiment, a plate-shaped electrochemical cellmade of a ceramic material with a through holeformed therein is held by a holding member. The memberis made of a ceramic material and has a plate-shaped main bodyof a shape of a flat plate and a protruded portion. A first supply holeA for supplying one gas and a second supply holeB for supplying the other gas are formed in the holding member. The main bodyhas a sealing surfaceagainst the one main faceof the cellwhile the protruded portionis inserted into the through hole

A honeycomb structural body is formed by a plurality of first wall portions, a plurality of second wall portions and a plurality of cross portions. Moreover, through holes of the honeycomb structural body are respectively defined by the first wall portion, the second wall portion and the cross portion. Further, a center portion of the first wall portion is formed by a sub material other than a main material which constitutes the honeycomb structural body. The honeycomb structural body having the structure mentioned above has excellent mechanical strength and spalling resistance.

Honeycomb structural body

A honeycomb-shaped electric element includes a honeycomb-shaped structural body, the honeycomb-shaped structural body including crossing partition walls defining a number of through-holes arranged thereamong, the through-holes being arranged in at least three lines extending laterally substantially in the same direction, wherein partition wall portions of the through-boles in the at least three lines are made of at least an electrically conductive material and an insulating material such that the partition wall portions of the through-holes made of the electrically conductive material and those of the insulating material are so arranged that a current flow passage may be continuously formed in the same direction as the continuous lines extend.

Electric elements

A sintered laminated structure including a plurality of ceramic layers made of ceramic materials different from one another, wherein each of the ceramic layers is provided with through-holes passing each of the ceramic layers.

Sintered laminated structures, electrochemical cells and process for producing such sintered laminated structures

A layered sintered body for an electrochemical cell which is a planar-type layered sintered body composed of an electrode and a separator stacked thereon, wherein a plurality of gas flow passages are formed by coupling grooves formed on the electrode and the separator. Even when this electrochemical cell is subjected to repetition of a cooling-heating cycle, an increase of internal resistance on and around the boundary between the separator and electrode can be restrained and layer separation and development of cracks at the joint boundary can be prevented.

Layered sintered body for electrochemical cells, electrochemical cell and process for manufacturing layered sintered body for electrochemical cells

An electrochemical cell including at least one dense solid electrolyte body, at least two dense interconnectors for collecting current flowing through the cell, cathodes and anodes, wherein the at least one dense solid electrolyte body and at least two dense interconnectors constitute a structural body, a plurality of first gas flow channels and a plurality of second gas flow channels both extend in a given direction, and are each defined and surrounded by a part of the at least one solid electrolyte body and a part of the at least two interconnectors, the anodes are formed on respective walls defined by a part of at least one solid electrolyte body and a part of at least two interconnectors and constituting the respective first gas flow channels, the cathodes are formed on respective walls defined by a part of at least one solid electrolyte body and a part of at least two interconnectors and constituting the respective second gas flow channels, every anode is opposed to an adjacent cathode or adjacent cathodes via a solid electrolyte body, and every cathode is opposed to an adjacent anode or adjacent anodes via a solid electrolyte body.

Electrochemical cell having gas flow channels surrounded by solid

Sintered laminated structures, electrochemical cells and process for

Layered sintered body for electrochemical cells

An electrically conductive ceramic film having a large size and surface area, a complicated configuration and a high electrical conductivity can be provided by the present melt spray method. The method includes melt spraying a raw material of an electrically conductive ceramic on a substrate to form a melt sprayed film, and heat treating the melt spray film to produce the electrically conductive ceramic film.

Method of producing electrically conductive ceramic film for

A method for producing an airtight and thin lanthanum chromite film having a splendid electrical conductivity including providing an air electrode film on a porous ceramic substrate, thermally spraying a raw material for thermally spraying lanthanum chromite on a surface of the air electrode film to form a thermally sprayed film, and heat treating the thermally sprayed film to form an interconnector. The raw material for thermally spraying lanthanum chromite may contain a doping metal or metals, such as, copper, and zinc, etc. The heat treating is effected preferably at a temperature of at least 1,250.degree. C.

Method for increasing the electrical conductivity of a thermal sprayed

A first method for manufacturing a solid oxide film having a highly densified solid oxide film having a small thickness and an improved electric conductivity; and a second method for manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell in which a solid oxide film formed on an air electrode or a fuel electrode is manufactured by the first method. The solid oxide fuel cell according to the present invention is capable of generating a high power. The solid oxide film is formed on a substrate in such manner that a solid oxide material is sprayed on the substrate to form a sprayed solid oxide film thereon; Then a solution of metal compound including at least one metal selected from a group of manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc is impregnated into the sprayed solid oxide film; and the sprayed solid oxide film is subjected to a heat treatment in order to increase an airtightness of the film. It may be possible to use a material for spraying, in which 1.about.10 parts by weight of an oxide of said metal is contained, instead of the impregnation, or to obtain a material for spraying by mixing the compound powder containing the metal and the solid oxide material in a spray gun via separately arranged powder supply devices.

Method for manufacturing solid oxide film and method for manufacturing

A solid electrolyte film being formed on a substrate by plasma spraying. The solid electrolyte film has a solid electrolyte structure composed of cerium oxide or zirconium oxide stabilized or partially stabilized with an alkaline earth metal element and/or a rare earth element. The solid electrolyte film has a true porosity of not more than 5%. A solid oxide fuel cell is also disclosed, which involves such a solid electrolyte film being formed on the substrate by plasma spraying, an air electrode provided on one side of the solid electrolyte films and a fuel electrode provided on the other side of the solid electrolyte film. The solid electrolyte film is formed on the substrate by densifying a plasma sprayed solid electrolyte raw film by heating the film in a temperature range of 1,300.degree. to 1,700.degree. C. In the cell, the fuel electrode film or the air electrode is formed onto a surface of the solid electrolyte film.

Solid electrolyte film, solid oxide fuel cell comprising such a solid

A fuel electrode for solid oxide fuel cells, which is to be provided on a surface of an ion-conductive solid electrolyte body, includes a skeleton for a porous fuel electrode, and a thin filmy tissue which is composed of the same material as the solid electrolyte body, and covers the fuel electrode skeleton. Gaps are present between the thin filmy tissue and the fuel electrode skeleton. The skeleton is made of a material containing at least nickel. A process for producing fuel electrode includes the steps of: forming a porous film made of a porous skeleton containing at least nickel oxide onto a surface of an ion-conductive solid electrolyte body; covering a surface of the porous skeleton with a thin filmy tissue made of the said solid electrolyte material by impregnating the porous film with a solution of a metallic compound capable of producing the same solid electrolyte material as that of the solid electrolyte body; heating the porous film and decomposing the metallic compound; and forming a porous skeleton containing at least nickel by reducing the porous film, and forming gaps between the fuel electrode skeleton and the thin filmy tissue by a decrease in volume of the porous skeleton resulting from reduction of nickel oxide to nickel.

Growing community of inventors

Kasugai, Japan

Kiyoshi Okumura