Influence of pore former on electrochemical performance of fuel-electrode supported SOFCs manufactured by aqueous-based tape-casting

The microstructure of a fuel electrode has a significant influence on the whole performance of fuel-electrode supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) fabricated by aqueous-based tape casting. While in the aqueous-based tape casting process, the fuel electrode porosity, which plays a key role in the final fuel electrode microstructure, mainly comes from the pore former (potato starch in this case). Different contents of starch are added into fuel electrode slurries. When the starch content is 2.5%wt, the cells show the best performance. After one thermal cycle and discharging at a constant voltage of 0.7 V and temperature of 800 °C, the peak power density has reached ∼1263 mW cm⁻² with humidified H₂ as the fuel and air as the oxidant.