MODULAR CERAMIC ELECTROCHEMICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREFOR

摘要

A ceramic element is provided which can be injection molded from an electrolyte and a binder. The ceramic element includes a tube support portion an d a plurality of tubes extending from the tube support portion. The plurality of tubes are arranged in rows and columns. A plurality of vias extend from one surface of the tube support portion to an opposite surface of the tube support portion. The ceramic element is coated with an electrically conductive coating and a current collector coating. The vias are coated with the electrically conductive coating and plugged. After the coatings are removed in selected areas of the ceramic element. the tubes of the ceramic element form a series-parallel array because tubes in the same column are connected in parallel electrically an d tubes in adjacent rows are connected in series electrically. Two ceramic element s are sealed together to form a modular electrochemical device. The electrochemical device can be either an oxygen generator or a fuel cell. Oxygen generating capacity can be increased by manifolding together two or more modular oxygen generators.