Influence of reduced substrate shunting current on cell performance in integrated planar solid oxide fuel cells

Two-cell arrayed integrated planar solid oxide fuel cells (IP-SOFCs) were fabricated using a robo-dispensing method. Special emphasis was placed on the influence of reduced shunting current on cell performance. The resistivity of the substrate increased according to a mixture rule of composites by adding Al2O3 into the substrate of partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ). This strategy, which reduces shunting current through the substrate, enhances the power output. When the amount of Al2O3 added was more than 26 vol%, however, the Ni anode migrated into the PSZ substrate to react with Al2O3, which led to performance degradation. In the case of the two-cell arrayed IP-SOFC with a 20 vol%-Al2O3 added to the PSZ substrate, a reduced shunting current loss improved the power density by 30% compared to that of the Al2O3-free substrate.