Comparative study on the performance of tubular and button cells with YSZ membrane fabricated by a refined particle suspension coating technique

Both tubular and button solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with configuration NiO–YSZ/YSZ/PNSM–YSZ were assembled and compared in their performance. A refined particle suspension coating technique was used for preparing thin dense YSZ electrolyte layer on the two types of anode supports, and the thickness of YSZ membrane was controlled by the time of tubular anode dipped into YSZ suspension and the suspension volume dropped onto the button anode, respectively. Current–voltage tests and AC impedance measurements were carried out to characterize the performance and ohmic resistances in the two cells. Compared with tubular cell, higher peak power density values of 933 mW cm−2 at 850 °C was achieved, which is 2.2 times higher than the value of tubular cell. AC impedance indicated that lower performance of tubular cell was restricted by the ohmic loss at the operating temperatures.