JP2005259604A - Solid oxide fuel cell and substrate used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell achieving high durability and high power generating output. <P>SOLUTION: The solid oxide fuel cell comprises unit cells C each comprising an electrolyte 3, a fuel electrode 5 and an air electrode 7. The solid oxide fuel cell further comprises a substrate 1 for supporting the unit cells C. In each of the unit cells C, the electrolyte 3 is disposed in a recess 11 formed in the substrate 1, and the fuel electrode 5 and the air electrode 7 are disposed with a predetermined space on each electrolyte 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) using a solid electrolyte.

  Conventionally, as a cell design of a solid oxide fuel cell, a flat plate type (stack type), a cylindrical type (tube type), and the like have been proposed.

  A flat cell is one in which a fuel electrode and an air electrode are respectively arranged on the front and back surfaces of a plate-like electrolyte, and a plurality of cells formed in this way are used in a state where they are stacked via separators. The separator plays the role which completely isolate | separates the fuel gas and oxidant gas which are supplied to each cell, and the gas seal is given between each cell and the separator (for example, patent document 1). However, this flat cell has a drawback that the cell is vulnerable to vibration, thermal cycle, etc. because it applies pressure to the cell to provide a gas seal, and has a big problem in practical use. Yes.

  On the other hand, a cylindrical cell has a fuel electrode and an air electrode arranged on the outer peripheral surface and inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical electrolyte, and a cylindrical vertical stripe type, a cylindrical horizontal stripe type, and the like have been proposed (for example, Patent Documents). 2). However, the cylindrical cell has an advantage of excellent gas sealing properties, but has a drawback that the manufacturing process is complicated and the manufacturing cost is high because the structure is more complicated than that of the flat plate cell.

  In addition, there are the following problems. In order to improve the performance of both flat and cylindrical cells, it is necessary to reduce the internal resistance by thinning the electrolyte. However, if the electrolyte is too thin, it becomes vulnerable to vibration and thermal cycles. As a result, there is a problem that vibration resistance and durability are lowered.

For this reason, as a fuel cell that replaces the flat plate type and the cylindrical type described above, the fuel electrode and the air electrode are arranged on the same surface of the substrate made of a solid electrolyte, and power is generated by supplying a mixed gas of fuel gas and oxidant gas. A non-diaphragm solid oxide fuel cell that can be used has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 3). According to this fuel cell, since it is not necessary to separate the fuel gas and the oxidant gas, the separator and the gas seal are not required, and the structure and the manufacturing process can be greatly simplified.
JP-A-5-3045 (first page, FIG. 6) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-94830 (first page, FIG. 1) JP-A-8-264195 (page 2-3, FIG. 1)

  However, when an electrolyte is used as a support substrate as in the non-membrane type solid oxide fuel cell described in Patent Document 3, cracks and defects due to strong impacts do not occur during transportation or manufacture before a finished product. Thus, a certain amount of thickness is required. Therefore, an electrolyte material is used more than necessary as compared with battery performance, and the material cost may increase.

  There were also the following problems. In this fuel cell, a plurality of electrode bodies composed of a pair of fuel electrodes and air electrodes are arranged on an electrolyte. And the fuel electrode and air electrode between adjacent electrode bodies are connected in series by the interconnector. However, in this structure, since an electrolyte exists between adjacent electrode bodies, this electrolyte can be a path for oxygen ions to move during power generation. Therefore, the electrolyte between the electrode bodies, and the fuel electrode and the air electrode sandwiching the electrolyte constitute a fuel cell to generate electric power. In this case, since the oxygen ions can move from the air electrode to the fuel electrode of the adjacent electrode body, the electromotive force may be reduced. Thereby, the original electromotive force of the single battery cell and the electromotive force of the battery formed between the electrode bodies are offset, and there is a problem that desired output characteristics cannot be obtained.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a solid oxide fuel cell capable of obtaining high durability and obtaining a higher power generation output.

  The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell including a single battery cell having an electrolyte, a fuel electrode, and an air electrode, and has been made to solve the above problem, and supports each of the single battery cells. In each unit cell, the electrolyte is disposed in a recess formed in the substrate, and the fuel electrode and the air electrode are disposed on the electrolyte at a predetermined interval. .

  According to this configuration, since the electrolyte is supported on the substrate, high durability against strong impact, vibration, and thermal cycle can be maintained even when the electrolyte is thinned, and the material cost can be reduced. It becomes possible.

  Further, the present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell comprising a plurality of unit cells each having an electrolyte, a fuel electrode, and an air electrode, and has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem. A substrate for supporting the cell; in each of the unit cells, the electrolyte is disposed in a plurality of recesses formed in the substrate, and the fuel electrode and the air electrode are spaced apart from each other on the electrolyte. Arranged.

  According to this configuration, since the electrolyte of each single battery cell is disposed in each of the plurality of recesses formed in the substrate, each electrolyte is in a state of being partitioned by the wall formed between the recesses. Therefore, since the electrolyte is in a non-contact state between adjacent unit cells, the possibility that the electrolyte existing between adjacent electrodes as in the conventional example becomes a path of oxygen ions and the electromotive force decreases is reduced. can do. As a result, a high voltage and output can be obtained.

  Moreover, an interconnector can be arrange | positioned on a board | substrate, and a single battery cell can also be connected in the state which was in series, parallel, or those mixed. However, even a configuration in which an interconnector or a current collector is not formed / connected can be used as a fuel cell of the present invention, and in that case, in an apparatus for setting the fuel cell of the present invention, An interconnector or a current collector may be provided, and when this fuel cell is set in the apparatus, the interconnector or the current collector may be connected to a necessary portion of each electrode.

  In the fuel cell, the plurality of unit cells can be formed on both sides of the substrate. Thereby, since more single battery cells can be arrange | positioned on a board | substrate, a high output can be obtained with the battery made compact. This embodiment can also be applied to the case where one single battery cell is formed on one side and the other side of the substrate.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the depth of the said recessed part is 5 micrometers-5 mm. This is because if it is smaller than 5 μm, it becomes difficult to dispose the electrolyte in the recess. If it is larger than 5 mm, the amount of the electrolyte filled in the recess increases, but the amount necessary to contribute to the battery performance. This is because the cost is rather high.

  Each recess can have various shapes according to the shape of a desired electrolyte, but can be formed in, for example, a strip shape. At this time, it is preferable that the width | variety of a recessed part shall be 10 micrometers-10 mm.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the board | substrate which supports a single battery cell is comprised from the ceramic type material from a heat resistant viewpoint. The ceramic material used here is preferably, for example, an alumina material, a silica material, a zirconia material, or a titania material.

  With the solid oxide fuel cell according to the present invention, high durability and high output can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a solid oxide fuel cell according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view (a) and a plan view (b) of a fuel cell according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell includes two unit cells C and a substrate 1 that supports the unit cells C. The unit cell C includes an electrolyte 3 having a rectangular shape in plan view, and a strip-shaped fuel electrode 5 and an air electrode 7 disposed on the electrolyte 3. In addition, two concave portions 11 having a rectangular shape in plan view are formed on one surface of the substrate 1, and each concave portion 11 is filled with the electrolyte 3 of each single battery cell C. Thereby, each electrolyte 3 is in a state of being partitioned by the wall 12 between the recesses 11. At this time, it is preferable that the depth of each recessed part 11 is 5 micrometers-5 mm. This is because if it is smaller than 5 μm, it becomes difficult to dispose the electrolyte 3 so as not to protrude from the inside of the recess 11. If it is larger than 5 mm, the portion of the electrolyte 3 that does not contribute to the battery reaction increases, and the cost is reduced. Because it becomes high.

  The fuel electrode 5 and the air electrode 7 on the upper surface of the electrolyte 3 are arranged at a predetermined interval, and this interval is preferably, for example, 1 to 1000 μm, and more preferably 10 to 500 μm. The interval between adjacent unit cells C, that is, the width of the wall 12 between the recesses 11 is preferably, for example, 10 to 5000 μm, and more preferably 1000 to 3000 μm. Both unit cells C are connected in series by an interconnector 9. That is, the air electrode 7 of one unit cell (left side) and the fuel electrode 5 of the other unit cell are connected by the interconnector 9.

  Next, the material of the fuel cell configured as described above will be described. The substrate 1 is preferably formed of a material having excellent adhesion to the electrolyte 3 and excellent heat resistance of 1500 ° C. or higher. Specifically, ceramic materials such as alumina materials, silica materials, zirconia materials, and titanium materials can be preferably used. In addition, it is preferable that the thickness of the board | substrate 1 shall be 100 micrometers or more from a viewpoint of maintaining a certain amount of durability.

As the material of the electrolyte 3, those known as electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells can be used. For example, ceria-based oxides such as (Ce, Sm) O ₃ , (Ce, Gd) O ₃ , ( Oxygen ion conductive ceramic materials such as La, Sr) (Ga, Mg) O _{3 and} other lanthanum galade oxides, scandia stabilized zirconia (ScSZ), yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and other zirconia oxides Can be used.

  The fuel electrode 5 and the air electrode 7 can be formed of a ceramic powder material. The average particle size of the powder used at this time is preferably 10 nm to 100 μm, more preferably 50 nm to 50 μm, and particularly preferably 100 nm to 10 μm. In addition, an average particle diameter can be measured according to JISZ8901, for example.

As a ceramic powder material forming the fuel electrode 5, for example, a mixture of nickel and an oxygen ion conductive material can be used. The metal used at this time is not limited to nickel, and a metal that is stable in a reducing atmosphere of cobalt or a noble metal (such as platinum, ruthenium, or palladium) can be used. Examples of the oxygen ion conductive material include ceria-based oxides such as (Ce, Sm) O ₃ and (Ce, Gd) O _3, and lanthanum galades such as (La, Sr) (Ga, Mg) O _3. And oxygen ion conductive ceramic materials such as zirconia oxide such as scandia-stabilized zirconia (ScSZ) and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), and a mixture of such a ceramic material and nickel Preferably, the fuel electrode 5 is formed. The mixed form of the oxygen ion conductive ceramic material and nickel may be a physical mixed form or a form of powder modification to nickel. Moreover, the ceramic material mentioned above can be used individually by 1 type or in mixture of 2 or more types.

As the ceramic powder material forming the air electrode 7, for example, a perovskite metal oxide can be used. Specifically, (Sm, Sr) CoO ₃ , (La, Sr) MnO ₃ , (La, Sr) CoO ₃ , (La, Sr) (Fe, Co) O ₃ , (La, Sr) (Fe, Co , Ni) O _{3 and the} like. These ceramic powders can be used singly or in combination of two or more.

The interconnector 9 is made of a conductive metal such as Pt, Au, Ag, Ni, Cu, SUS, or a metal-based material, or La (Cr, Mg) O ₃ , (La, Ca) CrO ₃ , ( La, Sr) CrO ₃ and other conductive ceramic materials such as lanthanum and chromite can be used. One of these may be used alone, or two or more may be used in combination. May be.

  The electrolyte 3, the fuel electrode 5, and the air electrode 7 are formed by adding appropriate amounts of a binder, an organic solvent, and the like with the above-described material as a main component. The electrolyte 3 is preferably formed to have a thickness equal to or smaller than the depth of the recess 11 after sintering, for example, 10 μm to 5000 μm. The film thickness of the fuel electrode 5 and the air electrode 7 is formed to be 1 μm to 500 μm after sintering, but is preferably 10 μm to 100 μm. The interconnector 9 is also formed by adding the above additive to the above-described material.

Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the above-described fuel cell will be described. First, a substrate made of the above-described material is prepared. At this time, the substrate 1 may be prepared in a state in which the concave portion 11 is formed by injection molding, die molding or the like, or the concave portion is formed by sandblasting, lithography processing, cutting processing or the like on the plate material of the material described above. Can also be formed. Subsequently, the above-described powder materials for the electrolyte 3, the fuel electrode 5, and the air electrode 7 are used as main components, and an appropriate amount of a binder, a photosensitive polymer, an organic solvent, and the like are added and kneaded to each of these powders. Create paste and air electrode paste respectively. The viscosity of each paste is preferably about 10 ³ to 10 ⁶ Pa · s so as to be compatible with the screen printing method described below. Similarly, the interconnector paste is prepared by adding an additive such as a binder to the powder material described above. The viscosity of this paste is the same as that of the fuel electrode paste described above.

  Subsequently, after the electrolyte paste is filled in the recess 11 of the substrate 1 as shown in FIG. 2A by screen printing, the electrolyte 3 is formed by drying and sintering at a predetermined time and temperature. . Alternatively, it is formed by filling the recess 11 with a powder material, pressing, and compacting (FIG. 2B). Next, a fuel electrode paste is applied on each electrolyte 3 in a strip shape by a screen printing method, and then dried and sintered at a predetermined time and temperature to form a fuel electrode 5 (FIG. 2C). Subsequently, a strip-shaped air electrode paste is applied on each electrolyte 3 at a predetermined interval from the fuel electrode 5 by screen printing, and dried and sintered at a predetermined time and temperature, whereby the air electrode 7 is formed. It forms (FIG.2 (d)). Thus, two single battery cells C are formed on the substrate 1. Then, an interconnector paste is applied in a linear manner by screen printing between the air electrode 7 of the left unit cell C and the fuel electrode 5 of the right unit cell C, and dried at a predetermined time and temperature. The interconnector 9 is formed by sintering (FIG. 2E). The fuel cell according to the present embodiment is completed through the above steps. In addition, when using a photosensitive polymer for the said paste, it is necessary to sinter after drying and an exposure process.

  The fuel cell configured as described above generates power as follows. First, on one surface of the substrate 1 on which both unit cells C are arranged, a mixed gas of hydrogen or a fuel gas composed of a hydrocarbon such as methane or ethane and an oxidant gas such as air is in a high temperature state (for example, 400-1000 ° C). As a result, oxygen ion conduction occurs mainly in the vicinity of the surface layer of the electrolyte 3 between the fuel electrode 5 and the air electrode 7 in each unit cell C, and power generation is performed.

  As described above, in the fuel cell according to the present embodiment, the electrolyte 3 of each unit cell C is disposed in each recess 11 formed in the substrate 1, so that each electrolyte 3 is formed between the recesses 11. It will be in the state divided by the wall 12 to be performed. Therefore, since the electrolyte 3 is in a non-contact state between the adjacent single battery cells C, there is a possibility that the electrolyte existing between the adjacent electrodes as in the conventional example serves as a route for oxygen ions to reduce the electromotive force. Can be reduced. As a result, a high output can be obtained.

  By the way, although the example which connected each single battery cell C in series was demonstrated in the said description, of course, it can connect in parallel. An example is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, in this fuel cell, the fuel electrodes 5 and the air electrodes 7 in each unit cell C are connected by an interconnector 9. In this way, if a substrate in which a plurality of single battery cells C are arranged on the electrolyte 3 is prepared as a substrate, the single battery cells C can be connected in series or in parallel only by changing the wiring of the interconnector 9. Can be connected to.

  In addition, the single battery cell C can be formed not only on one side of the substrate 1 but also on the other side. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the concave portions 11 are formed on both surfaces of the substrate 1, and the unit cell C described above is formed in each concave portion 11. Each single battery cell C can be connected by the interconnector 9 in the same manner as described above. However, when connecting the single battery cells C formed on each surface of the substrate 1, for example, a through hole is formed in the substrate 1. The battery cells C on both sides may be connected via a conductive material such as an interconnector that passes through the through hole. In this way, by forming the unit cells C on both surfaces of the substrate 1, the power generation output can be increased while keeping the fuel cell compact.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this, A various change is possible unless it deviates from the meaning. For example, in the above embodiment, the plurality of single battery cells C are arranged on the substrate 1, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. By forming the single battery cell C in the recess 11, it is possible to configure a fuel cell having only one single battery cell. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the concave portion 11 is formed not only on one surface of the substrate 1 but also on the other surface, and the single battery cell C can be disposed in the concave portion 11.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the electrolyte 3 is filled in the whole inside of the recessed part 11, as long as the adjacent electrolyte 3 does not contact, the layer thickness of the electrolyte 3 may be smaller than the depth of the recessed part 11, or It can be large. In the above embodiment, the screen printing method is used for applying each paste, but is not limited thereto, doctor blade method, spray coating method, lithography method, electrophoretic electrodeposition method, roll coating method, Other general printing methods such as a dispenser coating method, CVD, EVD, sputtering method, printing method such as transfer method, and the like can be used. Moreover, as a post-process after printing, a hydrostatic press, a hydraulic press, and other general press processes can be used.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. In addition, this invention is not limited to a following example.

An alumina substrate having a thickness of 5 mm was used as the substrate material. Two concave portions having a rectangular shape in a plan view having a depth of 2 mm, a width of 2 mm, and a length of 10 mm were formed on the substrate by sandblasting with an interval of 2 mm. As the electrolyte material, GDC (Ce _0.9 Gd _0.1 O _1.9 ) powder was used. Further, NiO powder (0.01 to 1 μm, average 0.1 μm) and SDC (Ce _0.8 Sm _0.2 O _1.9 ) powder (particle size 1 to 10 μm, average 5 μm) are used as the fuel electrode material at a weight ratio of 7: 3. After mixing as described above, a cellulose binder was mixed to prepare a fuel electrode paste. The viscosity of the fuel electrode paste was 5 × 10 ⁵ mPa · s suitable for screen printing. SSC (Sm _0.5 Sr _0.5 CoO ₃ ) powder (0.1 to 10 μm, average 3 μm) was used as an air electrode material, and a cellulose binder was mixed to prepare an air electrode paste. The viscosity of the air electrode paste was 5 × 10 ⁵ mPa · s suitable for screen printing as in the fuel electrode.

  Next, GDC powder was filled in each recess of the substrate and sintered at 1600 ° C. for 5 hours to form an electrolyte. Subsequently, the fuel electrode paste was applied on each electrolyte so as to have a width of 500 μm, a length of 7 mm, and a coating thickness of 50 μm by screen printing. And after drying for 15 minutes at 130 degreeC, it sintered at 1450 degreeC for 1 hour, and formed the fuel electrode. Subsequently, an air electrode paste was applied on each electrolyte so as to have a width of 500 μm, a length of 7 mm, and an application thickness of 50 μm on each electrolyte so as to be arranged in parallel with each fuel electrode. At this time, the distance between the fuel electrode and the air electrode was set to 200 μm. And after drying for 15 minutes at 130 degreeC, it sintered at 1200 degreeC for 1 hour, and formed the air electrode. Thus, two single battery cells were formed.

  Next, the single battery cells were connected with an interconnector so as to be in series. More specifically, printing was performed so as to connect adjacent fuel electrodes and air electrodes between single battery cells with a paste mainly composed of Au. Then, after drying at 150 ° C. for 20 minutes, sintering was performed at 900 ° C. for 2 hours to obtain a solid oxide fuel cell according to the example.

It is sectional drawing (a) and top view (b) of one Embodiment of the solid oxide fuel cell which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the manufacturing method of the solid oxide fuel cell which concerns on FIG. It is a top view which shows the other example of the solid oxide fuel cell which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the further another example of the solid oxide fuel cell which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the further another example of the solid oxide fuel cell which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Substrate 11 Recess 3 Electrolyte 5 Fuel Electrode 7 Air Electrode 9 Interconnector

Claims (8)

A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a unit cell having an electrolyte, a fuel electrode, and an air electrode,
Comprising a substrate for supporting each unit cell,
In each of the unit cells, the electrolyte is disposed in a recess formed in the substrate, and the fuel electrode and the air electrode are disposed at a predetermined interval on each electrolyte. . A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a plurality of unit cells each having an electrolyte, a fuel electrode, and an air electrode,
Comprising a substrate for supporting each unit cell,
In each of the unit cells, the electrolyte is disposed in a plurality of recesses formed in the substrate, and the fuel electrode and the air electrode are disposed on the electrolyte at predetermined intervals. Fuel cell.   The solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 2, further comprising an interconnector for connecting the unit cells. Recesses are formed on both sides of the substrate,
In each said single battery cell, while the said electrolyte is each arrange | positioned at the recessed part of the said board | substrate, the said fuel electrode and an air electrode are arrange | positioned on the said each electrolyte at predetermined intervals. Solid oxide fuel cell. A plurality of recesses are formed on both sides of the substrate,
In each of the unit cells, the electrolyte is disposed in the recesses on both sides of the substrate, and the fuel electrode and the air electrode are disposed on the electrolyte at a predetermined interval. The solid oxide fuel cell as described.   6. The solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a depth of the concave portion is 5 μm to 5 mm.   7. The solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein each of the recesses is formed in a band shape and has a width of 10 μm to 10 mm. The solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is made of a ceramic material.

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