Modeling of patterned mixed-conducting electrodes and the importance of sheet resistance at small feature sizes

The sheet resistance of patterned electrodes was modeled and corrected using a finite volume technique. Results show that the sheet resistance of patterned electrodes may dramatically reduce the utilization or the performance of the electrodes when the feature size (e.g., thickness or width) is sufficiently small. Further, the utilization of a patterned electrode with a given geometry can be estimated, which may be used for correcting the sheet resistance effect on electrode performance. These results are important not only to fundamental study of electrode reaction mechanisms and kinetics but also to better design of porous mixed-conducting electrodes for solid oxide fuel cells.