Crater patterned 3-D proton conducting ceramic fuel cell architecture with ultra thin Y:BaZrO3 electrolyte

Abstract

This paper reports the first successful operation of a 3-D crater patterned protonically conducting ceramic fuel cell architecture fabricated by a novel nonlithographic nanospherical patterning (NSP) method. Conformal layers of (similar to 120 nm) yttria-doped barium zirconate (BYZ) anhydrous electrolyte membranes sandwiched between thin (similar to 70 nm) sputtered porous Pt layers were fabricated. 3-D fuel cells achieved peak power densities of up to 186 mW/cm(2) at 450 degrees C using hydrogen as fuel.