Progress in the development of Nickel-less SOFCs: status of the EU project EVOLVE

The project EVOLVE aims at the development of new cell architecture for SOFC cell and stack, combining benefits of existing Anode Supported (high power density, lifetime) and Metal Supported cell (redox and thermal cyclability) architectures, while limiting the issue of carbon coking and sulphur poisoning by using enhanced perovskite anode materials. The core component is based on a composite anode substrate made of porous Alumina forming alloy (NiCrAl), combined with an electron conducting oxide ceramic (La0,1Sr0,9TiO3-α – LST), without having pure Nickel as structural component. Two manufacturing routes were followed for the manufacturing of the electrolyte, plasma spraying or PVD avoiding thus a sintering step in air at high temperature. The first prototype have been produced through the plasma spraying route, with 100µm thick electrolyte and without anode functional layer showed a very limited peak-performance measured at 20mW/cm² at 750°C. However no significant variation has been measured and no reactivity have been detected showing thus the stability of system under SOFC operating conditions. The plasma sprayed electrolyte has been successfully replaced by a thin electrolyte produced through the PVD route approach with a thickness reduced to less than 3µm, allowing the incorporation of an anode functional layer, major improvement of cell performance is being expected.. The project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) for the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative under grant agreement n°303429