General Electric Company

Todd-Michael Striker

James Anthony Ruud

Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani

Stephane Renou

Shu Ching Quek

Badri Narayan Ramamurthi

Chandra Sekher Yerramalli

Timothy Joseph Rehg

Kenneth Walter Browall

Jian Wu

Sylvia Marie Decarr

Simon William Gaunt

An electrically-conductive layer of material having a composition comprising lanthanum and strontium is described. The material is characterized by a microstructure having bimodal porosity. Another concept in this disclosure relates to a solid oxide fuel cell attached to at least one cathode interconnect by a cathode bond layer. The bond layer includes a microstructure having bimodal porosity. A fuel cell stack which incorporates at least one of the cathode bond layers is also described herein, along with related processes for forming the cathode bond layer.

Bond layer for a solid oxide fuel cell, and related processes and devices

A method of processing a ceramic electrolyte suitable for use in a fuel cell is provided. The method comprises situating a ceramic electrolyte layer over an anode layer; and subjecting the ceramic electrolyte layer to a stress prior to operation of the fuel cell, by: exposing the top surface of the electrolyte layer to an oxidizing atmosphere and the bottom surface of the electrolyte layer to a reducing atmosphere; and heating the electrolyte layer. The stress causes a substantial increase in the number of microcracks, or in the average size of the microcracks, or in both the number of the microcracks and their average size. A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a ceramic electrolyte layer processed by the disclosed method is also provided.

Method of processing a ceramic electrolyte, and related articles

A method of processing a ceramic layer is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a ceramic layer comprising a plurality of microcracks; infiltrating at least some of the plurality of microcracks with a liquid precursor comprising at least one oxidizable metal ion; and exposing the ceramic layer to a base having a pH value of at least about 9, so as to chemically convert the oxidizable metal ion into an oxide, thereby decreasing the porosity of the ceramic layer. A solid oxide fuel cell is provided. The solid oxide fuel cell comprises an anode; a cathode; and a ceramic electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode. The ceramic electrolyte is processed by the method comprising the steps of providing a ceramic electrolyte comprising a plurality of microcracks; infiltrating at least some of the plurality of microcracks with a liquid precursor comprising at least one oxidizable metal ion; and exposing the ceramic electrolyte to a base having a pH value of at least about 9, so as to chemically convert the oxidizable metal ion into an oxide, thereby decreasing the porosity of the ceramic electrolyte.

Method of processing a ceramic layer and related articles

A method of making an electrode structure is provided. The method includes disposing an electrocatalytic material on an electrode, applying heat to the electrocatalytic material to form a volatile oxide of the electrocatalytic material, and applying a voltage to the electrode to reduce the volatile oxide to provide a number of nano-sized electrocatalytic particles on or proximate to a triple phase boundary, where the number of nano-sized electrocatalytic particles is greater on or proximate to the triple phase boundary than in an area that is not on or proximate to the triple phase boundary, and where the triple phase boundary is disposed on the electrode.

Electrode structure and methods of making same

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Guilderland, NY, United States of America

Todd-Michael Striker