3D printing of mesoscopic porous anodes to enhance gas transport in solid oxide fuel cells

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are highly efficient energy conversion devices with broad fuel flexibility. Concentration polarization has been identified as the dominant factor causing voltage loss under high-current conditions, and mesoscopic porous electrodes have shown promise in alleviating this issue. However, the techniques available for fabricating customized and intricate mesoscopic porous SOFC electrodes remain limited. Herein, we utilized vat photopolymerization 3D printing to fabricate SOFC anode supports with mesoscopic interconnected array of conical channels (IACC). This IACC structure effectively enhanced gas transport, leading to a significant reduction in concentration overpotential in the SOFC. A peak power density of 745 mW·cm⁻² was achieved at 800 ℃ in an SOFC configured with a (La_0.75Sr_0.25)_0.95MnO₃ cathode, outperforming most existing studies. The novel, efficient, and controllable approach for optimizing mass transport within the electrodes, opens new avenues for developing high-performance SOFCs.