Boosting the performance of bolt-microtubular solid oxide fuel cells through surface pattern tuning

A number of bolt-microtubular anode supports (BMASs) are manufactured by winding the corresponding thin tapes on threaded rods of different thread pitches and depths, followed by co-lamination using isostatic press. Bolt-microtubular cells (BMCs) are also constructed on BMASs to investigate the effects of the created surface patterns on the cell performance and microstructure. The bolt-microtubular cell, whose anode support is patterned by using a threaded rod with 0.8 mm thread pitch and 0.4 mm thread depth, exhibits ~92% higher maximum performance than that of the reference cell at 800 ºC under 0.3 NL/min hydrogen flow and stagnant air. The almost doubled performance is mainly due to the increase in anode-electrolyte and cathode-electrolyte interfacial areas by the surface patterns created. The cell is also subjected to a 200-h life test at 800 °C and 0.7 V and demonstrates a stable performance.