Micro-scale energy conversion devices and methods

摘要

In various aspects, provided are solid oxide fuel cells with an operational temperature of less than about 500° C. that can provide, in various embodiments, a power density of greater than about 0.1 W/cm2 and/or have an ionic conductivity of greater than about 0.00001 ohm−1 cm−1. In various embodiments, provided are solid oxide fuel cells comprising a solid oxide electrolyte layer that is both an electronic and ionic conductor. In various aspects, provided are methods of making solid oxide fuel cells. In various aspects, provided are solid oxide materials comprising a polycrystalline ceramic layer less than about 100 nm thick having a ionic conductivity of greater than about 0.00001 ohm−1 cm−1 at a temperature less than about 500° C.

主权项

1. A solid oxide fuel cell comprising:
an anode layer that is porous with respect to a fuel gas; a layer of solid oxide electrolyte less than about 100 nm thick deposited on a surface of the anode layer at vacuum conditions of less than about 5×10-7 torr, so that an ionic conductivity of the layer of solid oxide electrolyte is greater than about 0.00001 ohm-1 cm−1 at a temperature of less than about 500° C.; and a cathode layer that is porous with respect to an oxidizer, the cathode layer deposited on at least a portion of the layer of solid oxide electrolyte; wherein at least a portion of the surface of the anode layer has a root-mean-square roughness of less than about 3 nm; wherein the layer of solid oxide electrolyte has a root-mean-square roughness of less than about 3 nm, and wherein the layer of solid oxide electrolyte has substantially no amorphous phase between one or more grain boundaries therein, so that an operating temperature of the solid oxide fuel cell is less than about 500° C. while a power density provided by the solid oxide fuel cell at said temperature is greater than about 0.1 W/cm2.