Solid oxide fuel cells and methods for fabricating solid oxide fuel cells include an electrolyte reinforcement (ERI) layer. An ink composition including a ceramic material and a sintering aid, such as a metal or metal oxide material, is applied to select portions of a solid oxide electrolyte and sintered to form an ERI layer. The ERI layer may improve the strength and durability of the electrolyte and may facilitate bonding to a high-temperature seal.

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode having a yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) structure. The YSZ structure is in contact with a solid electrolyte layer. A lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) structure is deposited on the YSZ structure to form a composite cathode. The cathode includes a catalyst layer. The catalyst layer is a mesoporous nanoionic catalyst material integrated with the YSZ and LSM structures. Alternatively, or in addition to, the mesoporous nanoionic catalyst material may be coated onto the YSZ and LSM structures or embedded into the YSZ and LSM structures. The mesoporous nanoionic catalyst material may form an interconnected fibrous network.

Flexible air-breathing microscale fuel cells are produced using ion exchange polymer membranes without silicon substrates or other rigid components. The microscale fuel cells provide long-life energy supply sources in portable electronics due to reduced volume, high energy density, and low cost. More particularly, the microscale fuel cell has a direct hydrogen flow-through porous anode electrode with a pair of air-breathing cathodes.

A planar type solid oxide fuel cell, and more particularly, a thin and light planar type solid oxide fuel cell omits a window frame and has a simplified a unit cell having a through hole through which fuel and air flow in/out a fuel electrode.

A buffer layer between an interconnect and an electrolyte of a solid oxide fuel cell, the buffer layer having a gradient in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), wherein the buffer layer minimizes electrolyte damage due to a difference in CTE between the interconnect and electrolyte.

A method of sealing a multi-component bipolar plate is disclosed. The method may include inserting a first seal between a first component and a second component, wherein the first seal is aligned with a first plurality of protrusions formed on a surface of at least one of the first component and the second component. The method may also include compressing the first component and the second component to cause the penetration of the first plurality of protrusions into the first seal. The method may further include plastically deforming the first seal in order to create a first sealing surface between the first component and the second component.

The invention relates to a stack of cells of a fuel cell comprising an anode plate and a cathode plate, at a first one of the two ends thereof, the stack ending in a first anode or cathode end plate, respectively, arranged on the cathode or anode plate, respectively, of the last cell of the stack, said first end plate defining a circuit for the cooling fluid of the last cell and said first end plate being an anode or cathode plate, respectively, identical to the anode and cathode plates, respectively, of the cells but missing the opening for dispensing reagent. It is thus possible to simplify the development and the assembly of a stack of cells of a fuel cell with proton-exchange membrane while ensuring a good seal and satisfactory cooling at the end of the stack.

A cell monitor connector is inserted with a first surface following a guide portion. When the cell monitor connector is further inserted, the cell monitor connector makes contact with a projection portion. In a state where the attachment is completed, the projection portion is elastically deformed so as to press a second surface. Due to this force, the cell monitor connector is held such that it is sandwiched between the projection portion and the guide portion.

The invention relates to a method for producing a membrane electrode assembly (10) for a fuel cell, comprising the following steps in the order given: provide two gas diffusion layers (13) that each have a catalytically coated surface; apply an ionomer dispersion (15a) onto the coated surface of at least one of the gas diffusion electrodes (13), arrange the gas diffusion layers (13) on each other such that the coated surfaces face each other, and a layer stack (18) comprising a gas diffusion layer (13)-catalytic coating (14)-ionomer coating (15)-catalytic coating (14)-gas diffusion layer (13) arises, and arrange a peripheral seal (17) around the layer stack (18), wherein the seal (17) has a height that at least corresponds to the height of the layer stack (18).

Furthermore, the invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly (10) that is or can be produced by means of the method according to the invention.

A fuel cell device with a rectangular solid ceramic substrate extending in length between first and second end surfaces where thermal expansion occurs primarily along the length. An active structure internal to the exterior surface extends along only a first portion of the length and has an anode, cathode and electrolyte therebetween. The first portion is heated to generate a fuel cell reaction. A remaining portion of the length is a non-heated, non-active section lacking opposing anode and cathode where heat dissipates along the remaining portion away from the first portion. A second portion of the length in the remaining portion is distanced away from the first portion such that its exterior surface is at low temperature when the first portion is heated. The anode and cathode have electrical pathways extending from the internal active structure to the exterior surface in the second portion for electrical connection at low temperature.