Highly porous anode catalyst layer structures for fuel flexible solid oxide fuel cells
An anode may be coated with a catalyst layer to improve solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) efficiency and provide lower operating temperatures. The catalyst layer may be highly porous and may be a core-shell structure or a layered structure. The catalyst layer may be deposited on the anode as a nanoframe structure or a cage structure.
1. A solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
a current collector;
a solid electrolyte layer; and
an anode comprising:
yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) extending between the current collector and the solid electrolyte layer;
nickel (Ni) deposited on the YSZ; and
a core-shell structure catalyst material coating deposited onto the YSZ and Ni comprising a first portion in contact with the current collector and a second portion in contact with the solid electrolyte layer, wherein the core-shell structure catalyst material coating comprises a Pt—Ni core and an outer shell.
2. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein the Pt—Ni core forms a random alloy.
3. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein the Pt—Ni core forms an intermetallic structure.
4. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is 3-5 atoms in thickness.
5. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is Pt, Pd, Au, or Ag.
6. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is porous.
7. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 6 , wherein the outer shell has a pore diameter of 2 nm to 50 nm.
8. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 7 , wherein the core-shell structure catalyst material coating is deposited onto the YSZ and Ni as a cage structure.
9. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 7 , wherein the core-shell structure catalyst material coating is deposited onto the YSZ and Ni as a nanoframe structure.
10. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 7 , wherein the core-shell structure catalyst material coating is deposited onto the YSZ and Ni as a random porous structure.