Metal Current Collector Protected by Oxide Film

ADVANTAGES:

Inexpensive Structurally sound

APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:

Electricity production (e.g. solid oxide fuel cells)
Electrolytic gas separation Electrolytic syngas production by partial oxidation
ABSTRACT:

Steven Visco, Craig Jacobson, and Lutgard DeJonghe have designed a cost-efficient, structurally sound technology for current collection and cell-to-cell interconnection of high temperature (>600 �C) planar electrochemical devices. Current collection is normally achieved using expensive metal oxides or metals such as platinum or nickel. Berkeley Lab's technology consists of a metal screen or metal felt made substantially of inexpensive ferritic steel coated with a thin oxide film, such as LaCrO3. (FeCr-based alloys can also be coated with nickel and a catalyst can be added.) The thin-film coated metal screen is heated in an oxidizing atmosphere at temperatures in excess of 400°C and the film coating becomes oxidized. The thin film prevents excessive oxidation of the underlying metal while providing electrical connection between the metal and the electrode of the electrochemical device.

This invention allows planar-SOFC stacks to be pressed together with Ni-felt current collects on the anode side and metal-felt current collects on the cathode side. It is especially applicable to metal-supported devices but is also helpful for ceramic or cermet supported SOFCs. It is particularly useful for large cells (e.g. 1m x 1m plates) where the current path is long.

Attached files:


Patents:
US 6,740,441

Inventor(s): Steven Visco, Craig Jacobson, and Lutgard DeJonghe

Type of Offer: Licensing



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