Thermal Growth and Performance of Manganese Cobaltite Spinel Protection Layers on Ferritic Stainless Steel SOFC Interconnects

To protect solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) from chromium poisoning and improve metallic interconnect stability, manganese cobaltite spinel protection layers with a nominal composition of Mn 1 . 5 Co 1 . 5 O 4 were thermally grown on Crofer22 APU, a ferritic stainless steel. Thermal, electrical, and electrochemical investigations indicated that the spinel protection layers not only significantly decreased the contact area specific resistance (ASR) between a LSF cathode and the stainless steel interconnect, but also inhibited the subscale growth on the stainless steel by acting as a barrier to the inward diffusion of oxygen. A long-term thermal cycling test demonstrated excellent structural and thermomechanical stability of these spinel protection layers, which also acted as a barrier to outward chromium cation diffusion to the interconnect surface. The reduction in the contact ASR and prevention of Cr migration achieved by application of the spinel protection layers on the cathode side of ferritic stainless steel interconnects resulted in improved stability and electrochemical performance of SOFCs.