Pixilated Flexible Cell Structure

Low cost manufacturing platform for inherently high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system is proposed.  Our “decoupled” cell architecture comprises a large number of smaller cells, which are effectively dissociated from one another.  It originates the built-in stress relief structures.  These cell structures respond very well to severe thermo-mechanical stress that is caused by the short warm up cycle, even in the order of seconds.

• Superlative Thermo-Mechanical Performance
• Rapid Turn-On Capability
• Robust, Reliable, Flexible Fuel Cell Superstructure
• High-Throughput Roll-to-Roll Manufacturing Process
• Intermediate Temperature Operation for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

Highly-efficient, clean, low-cost, distributed energy generation with existing fuels and infrastructure is in acute need.  High-temperature SOFC promises to deliver such capabilities but has been beset by high costs, low durability and long warm-up time.  These disadvantage are intrinsic to current device structures and processes.

Traditional solid oxide fuel cell stacks are composed of multiple layers of ceramic materials that are intimately and mechanically attached to each other with no provision for flexure for stress relief.  The internal stress lead to degradation in the course of normal operations, as the stack is heated and/or cooled.  Such approaches also require very long warm-up times, which limit the range of applications and markets.