Fabrication of Innovative Compliant Current Collector‐Supported Microtubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

In this work, an innovative compliant current collector‐supported microtubular solid oxide fuel cell has been designed and produced. A nickel wire is coiled around carbon‐composite rods to fabricate the cells support, and dip coating technique is used to deposit the anode and the electrolyte from ceramic slurries containing NiO/yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and YSZ, respectively. Pyrolizable materials are eliminated by heat treatment in air at 800°C; the half‐cell is then sintered in Ar at 1380°C to avoid the oxidation of the Ni wire whose compliance allows to minimize stresses generated during heat treatments. The cathode consists of two layers made by lanthanum strontium manganate–YSZ mixture and pure lanthanum strontium manganate co‐sintered at 1150°C. Electrochemical I–V characterization of single microtubular solid oxide fuel cells points out great potentiality of the innovative architecture demonstrated by the maximum power output of ~200 mW/cm ² at 800°C under a wet H ₂ fuel flow.