Ceres Intellectual Property Company Limited

Robert Leah

Adam Bone

Mike Lankin

Ahmet Selcuk

Mahfujur Rahman

Robin Pierce

Robert Morgan

Paul Barnard

Martin Schmidt

Karim El Koury

Carl Matthews

Subhasish Mukerjee

Nigel Peter Brandon

Lee Rees

Matthew Harrington

James Devriendt

Eva-Maria Hammer

Richard Dawson

Athol Duckett

Karim El-Koury

A method of manufacturing a layer of crystalline ytterbium doped zirconia on a substrate is disclosed. The method includes depositing a solution including precursor metal salts of the ytterbium doped zirconia onto a surface of the substrate, wherein the surface is a metallic or a ceramic surface. The solution is dried to form a film of the precursor metal salts on the surface. The film of the precursor metal salts is heated to decompose it to form an ytterbium doped zirconia. The previous steps may optionally be repeated. The film(s) are fired in order to form the layer of crystalline ytterbium doped zirconia. The ytterbium doped zirconia has a formula:([YbM]O)(ZrO)wherein M is a metallic dopant ion; z is in the range of 0.03 to 0.13; and x is in the range of 0.05 to 1.

Layer

The invention related to metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), fuel cell stacks containing the same, methods of their manufacture and use thereof. The SOFC of the invention utilizes an extended electrolyte and barrier layers to prevent specific types of corrosion of the metal substrate. This new coating approach reduces the rate of degradation of the fuel cells and improves system reliability when operated over long durations.

Fuel cell

The invention relates to solid oxide fuel cell anodes, in particular anodes which containing porous particles coated with catalytic nickel. The use of porous particles as a carrier for the nickel catalyst helps to overcome some of the redox stability issues experienced by some systems and improves the internal reforming properties of the system and permits less nickel to be used in SOFC systems.

Anode for a solid oxide fuel cell and composition and method for forming same

A process for forming an electrolyte for a metal-supported solid-oxide fuel cell, the process comprising:

Electrolyte forming process for a metal-supported solid-oxide fuel cell

The invention relates to metal supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), fuel cell stacks containing the same, methods of their manufacture and use thereof. The SOFC of the invention utilises an extended electrolyte and barrier layers to prevent specific types of corrosion of the metal substrate. This new coating approach reduces the rate of degradation of the fuel cells and improves system reliability when operated over long durations.

A process for forming an electrolyte for a metal-supported solid-oxide fuel cell, the process comprising: a. combining a doped-ceria powder with a sintering aid and solvent to form a slurry; b. applying the slurry to an anode layer; c. drying to form a green electrolyte; and d. firing the green electrolyte to form a sintered electrolyte; wherein the slurry in step b. comprises doped-ceria powder with a physical property selected from bimodal particle size distribution, a BET surface area in the range 15-40 m/g, a spherical morphology, or combinations thereof together with an electrolyte obtained by the process, a fuel cell and fuel cell stack, comprising the electrolyte, and the use of the fuel in the generation of electrical energy.

Electrolyte forming process

A method and apparatus for operating an intermediate-temperature solid-oxide fuel cell stack () with a mixed ionic/electronic conducting electrolyte in order to increase its efficiency. The required power output of the solid-oxide fuel cell stack () is determined and one or more operating conditions of the solid fuel cell stack () are controlled dependent upon the determined required power output. The operating conditions that are controlled may be at least one or the temperature of the fuel cell stack and the dilution of fuel delivered to the fuel cell stack.

Method and apparatus for operating a solid-oxide fuel cell stack with a mixed ionic/electronic conducting electrolyte

The present invention is concerned with improved fuel cell stack assembly arrangements.

Fuel cell stack arrangement

An interconnect for a low temperature solid oxide fuel cell, the interconnect comprising: a stainless steel substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface; a layer comprising chromium oxide on the first surface of the substrate, wherein the chromium oxide layer has a thickness in the range of 350-600 nm; and a metal oxide coating on the chromium oxide layer. A process for making an interconnect for a low temperature solid oxide fuel cell, the process comprising: coating a first surface of a stainless steel substrate with a metal oxide to form a coated substrate; and heating the coated substrate to a temperature in the range of 800-900&#xb0; C. to form a layer comprising chromium oxide between the first surface and the metal oxide coating.

Interconnect

A process for forming a metal supported solid oxide fuel cell, the process comprising the steps of: a) applying a green anode layer including nickel oxide, copper oxide and a rare earth-doped ceria to a metal substrate; b) firing the green anode layer to form a composite including oxides of nickel, copper, and a rare earth-doped ceria; c) providing an electrolyte; and d) providing a cathode. Metal supported solid oxide fuel cells comprising an anode a cathode and an electrolyte, wherein the anode includes nickel, copper and a rare earth-doped ceria, fuel cell stacks and uses of these fuel cells.

Metal supported solid oxide fuel cell

A process for forming a metal supported solid oxide fuel cell is provided. The process can include the steps of: a) applying a green anode layer including nickel oxide and a rare earth-doped ceria to a metal substrate; b) prefiring the anode layer under non-reducing conditions to form a composite; c) firing the composite in a reducing atmosphere to form a sintered cermet; d) providing an electrolyte; and e) providing a cathode; wherein the reducing atmosphere comprises an oxygen source, a metal supported solid oxide fuel cell formed during this process, fuel cell stacks and the use of these fuel cells.

Process for forming a metal supported solid oxide fuel cell

The present invention is concerned with methods for the deposition of ceramic films on ceramic or metallic surfaces, particularly the deposition of sub-micron thickness ceramic films such as films of stabilised zirconia and doped ceria such as CGO (cerium gadolinium oxide). The present invention is particularly useful in the manufacture of high and intermediate temperature operating fuel cells including solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and also metal supported intermediate temperature SOFC operating in the 450-650&#xb0; C. range.

Method for deposition of ceramic films

A method of fuelling an intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell comprises providing a fuel rich in carbon monoxide to an anode region, after the fuel has contacted a water gas shift reaction catalyst in the region of the anode, so that the water gas shift reaction occurs due to the presence of residual water in the fuel, and/or steam produced at the anode. A fuel cell assembly comprises a gas impermeable electrolyte between an anode and a cathode, first means for the supply of oxidant to the cathode, and second means for the supply of fuel to the anode that comprises a water gas shift reaction catalyst to catalyse the water gas shift reaction between carbon monoxide in the fuel and water/steam occurring as a residual in the fuel or from the reaction at the anode. A method also applies a catalyst to a metal substrate by ink-jet printing.

Fuel Cells

The present invention is concerned with improved fuel cell stack assemblies, and methods of operation of a fuel cell stack assembly, particularly with improved gas flow and thermal management.

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Horsham, United Kingdom

Robert Leah