Thin-Film SOFC Enabling Low-Temperature and Low-Hydrogen-Concentration Operation

A thin-film solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) was developed on an anodic aluminum oxide substrate. A dense yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) layer with a thickness of 290 nm on a platinum anode layer, and a cathode layer of gadolinia-doped ceria and platinum (10:90) with a thickness of 20 nm was deposited on the YSZ layer. As a result, the output power density of 203 mW/cm2 at 453°C was achieved even when using 3%-concentration hydrogen. The high power density indicates that our SOFC can operate using the low-concentration hydrogen from hydrous bioethanol at low temperatures.