Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines

Ceramatec, Inc.

Coorstek, Inc.

Sophie Menzer

W Grover Coors

John Howard Gordon

Ryan Patrick O'Hayre

Jianhua Tong

Meng Shang

The present invention relates to a protonic ceramic fuel cell and a method of making the same. More specifically, the method relates to a cost-effective route which utilizes a single moderate-temperature (less than or equal to about 1400&#xb0; C.) sintering step to achieve the sandwich structure of a PCFC single cell (dense electrolyte, porous anode, and porous cathode bone). The PCFC layers are stably connected together by the intergrowth of proton conducting ceramic phases. The resulted PCFC single cell exhibits excellent performance (about 450 mW/cmat about 500&#xb0; C.) and stability (greater than about 50 days) at intermediate temperatures (less than or equal to about 600&#xb0; C.). The present invention also relates to a two step method for forming a PCFC, and the resulting PCFC.

Cost-effective solid state reactive sintering method for protonic ceramic fuel cells

An electrochemical cell in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a first electrode containing a first phase intermixed with a second phase and a network of interconnected pores. The first phase contains a ceramic material and the second phase contains an electrically conductive material providing an electrically contiguous path through the first electrode. The electrochemical cell further includes a second electrode containing an alkali metal. A substantially non-porous alkali-metal-ion-selective ceramic membrane, such as a dense Nasicon, Lisicon, Li &#x3b2;&#x2033;-alumina, or Na &#x3b2;&#x2033;-alumina membrane, is interposed between the first and second electrodes.

Electrochemical cell comprising ionically conductive membrane and porous multiphase electrode

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Lakewood, CO, United States of America

Sophie Menzer