Solid-state energy harvesters comprising layers of metal suboxides and cerium dioxide utilizing a solid-state electrolyte to produce power and methods of making and using the same are provided. The solid-state energy harvester may have two or three electrodes per cell and produces power in the presence of water vapor and oxygen.

Solid-state energy harvesters comprising layers of metal suboxides and cerium dioxide utilizing a solid-state electrolyte to produce power and methods of making and using the same are provided. The solid-state energy harvester may have two or three electrodes per cell and produces power in the presence of water vapor and oxygen.

A method of forming an interlayer of a solid oxide cell unit on the surface of a substrate may include: providing a base interlayer solution comprising a solution of a soluble salt precursor of a metal oxide (crystalline) ceramic and crystalline nanoparticles, depositing the base interlayer solution onto the surface of the substrate, drying the base interlayer solution to define a nanocomposite sub-layer of the soluble salt precursor and nanoparticles, heating the sub-layer to decompose it and form a film of metal oxide comprising nanoparticles on the surface, and firing the substrate with the film on the metal surface, to form a nanocomposite crystalline layer.

Described herein are solid oxide fuel cells comprising conductive layers and methods of fabricating such cells. Specifically, a solid oxide fuel cell comprises cathode and anode layers, each comprising a porous base, catalyst sites disposed within the base, and a conductive layer. The conductive layer provides electrical conduction between the corresponding current collector and the catalyst sites. The conductive layer may at least partially extend into the porous base. For example, at least a portion of the conductive layer may be formed by infiltration of the porous base, e.g., before catalyst infiltration. In some examples, at least a portion of the conductive layer forms an interface between the corresponding porous base and the current collector. In these examples, the conductive layer is formed from an initial (green) conductive layer that is stacked between layers used to form the porous base and current collector and sintered the stack.

Described herein are solid oxide fuel cells comprising conductive layers and methods of fabricating such cells. Specifically, a solid oxide fuel cell comprises cathode and anode layers, each comprising a porous base, catalyst sites disposed within the base, and a conductive layer. The conductive layer provides electrical conduction between the corresponding current collector and the catalyst sites. The conductive layer may at least partially extend into the porous base. For example, at least a portion of the conductive layer may be formed by infiltration of the porous base, e.g., before catalyst infiltration. In some examples, at least a portion of the conductive layer forms an interface between the corresponding porous base and the current collector. In these examples, the conductive layer is formed from an initial (green) conductive layer that is stacked between layers used to form the porous base and current collector and sintered the stack.

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell including a multi-layered electrolyte layer using a calendering process. The method for manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell is a continuous process, thus providing high productivity and maximizing facility investment and processing costs. In addition, the solid oxide fuel cell manufactured by the method includes an anode that is free of interfacial defects and has a uniform packing structure, thereby advantageously greatly improving the production yield and power density. In addition, the solid oxide fuel cell has excellent interfacial bonding strength between respective layers included therein, and includes a multi-layered electrolyte layer in which the secondary phase at the interface is suppressed and which has increased density, thereby advantageously providing excellent output characteristics and long-term stability even at an intermediate operating temperature.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide solid oxide cells and components thereof having a metal oxide electrolyte that exhibits enhanced ionic conductivity. Certain of those embodiments have two materials, at least one of which is a metal oxide, disposed so that at least some interfaces between the domains of the materials orient in a direction substantially parallel to the desired ionic conductivity.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide solid oxide cells and components thereof having a metal oxide electrolyte that exhibits enhanced ionic conductivity. Certain of those embodiments have two materials, at least one of which is a metal oxide, disposed so that at least some interfaces between the domains of the materials orient in a direction substantially parallel to the desired ionic conductivity.

The present invention inexpensively provides an electrode material for a fuel electrode, the electrode material having CO.sub.2 resistance and being capable of forming a fuel cell having high electricity generation performance. An electrode material for a fuel electrode, the electrode material constituting a fuel electrode of a fuel cell including a proton-conductive solid electrolyte layer, includes a perovskite-type solid electrolyte component and a nickel (Ni) catalyst component, in which the solid electrolyte component includes a barium component, a zirconium component, a cerium component, and a yttrium component, and the mixture ratio of the zirconium component to the cerium component in the solid electrolyte component is set to be 1:7 to 7:1 in terms of molar ratio.

The present invention inexpensively provides an electrode material for a fuel electrode, the electrode material having CO.sub.2 resistance and being capable of forming a fuel cell having high electricity generation performance. An electrode material for a fuel electrode, the electrode material constituting a fuel electrode of a fuel cell including a proton-conductive solid electrolyte layer, includes a perovskite-type solid electrolyte component and a nickel (Ni) catalyst component, in which the solid electrolyte component includes a barium component, a zirconium component, a cerium component, and a yttrium component, and the mixture ratio of the zirconium component to the cerium component in the solid electrolyte component is set to be 1:7 to 7:1 in terms of molar ratio.