The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 31, 2013
Filed:
Sep. 28, 2007
Shu Ching Quek, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Chandra Sekher Yerramalli, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Todd-michael Striker, Guilderland, NY (US);
Badri Narayan Ramamurthi, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Sylvia Marie Decarr, Schenectady, NY (US);
Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Shu Ching Quek, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Chandra Sekher Yerramalli, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Todd-Michael Striker, Guilderland, NY (US);
Badri Narayan Ramamurthi, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Sylvia Marie DeCarr, Schenectady, NY (US);
Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani, Clifton Park, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Abstract
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.