Cathode side hardware for carbonate fuel cells
Carbonate fuel cathode side hardware having a thin coating of a conductive ceramic formed from one of LSC (La 0.8 Sr 0.2 CoO 3 ) and lithiated NiO (Li x NiO, where x is 0.1 to 1).
1. A carbonate fuel cell cathode current collector comprising a metallic stainless steel substrate coated with a thin film coating of a conductive ceramic comprising at least one of LSC (La 0.8 Sr 0.2 CoO 3 ) and lithiated NiO (Li x NiO, where x is 0.1 to 1), wherein said thin film coating covers more than 95% of the substrate's surface and said thin film coating protects said substrate against corrosion by molten carbonate electrolyte.
2. A carbonate fuel cell current collector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coating is obtained by a sol-gel process.
3. A carbonate fuel cell current collector in accordance with claim 2 wherein the thickness of said coating is between 0.5 μm and 5 μm.
4. A carbonate fuel cell comprising:
a cathode;
an anode;
a matrix for storing carbonate electrolyte disposed between said anode and cathode;
a cathode current collector situated adjacent said cathode;
a bipolar plate situated adjacent said cathode current collector; and
wherein at least one of said cathode current collector and said bipolar plate includes a metallic stainless steel substrate coated with an electrically conductive ceramic coating comprising at least one of LSC (La 0.8 Sr 0.2 CoO 3 ) and lithiated NiO (Li x NiO, where x is 0.1 to 1), wherein said electrically conductive ceramic coating covers more than 95% of the substrate's surface and said thin film coating protects said substrate against corrosion by molten carbonate electrolyte.
5. A carbonate fuel cell in accordance with claim 4 wherein said coating is obtained by a sol-gel process.
6. A carbonate fuel cell in accordance with claim 5 wherein the thickness of said coating is between 0.5 μm and 5 μm.