Jyh-Tyng Chou

Degradation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes Accelerated at a High Water Vapor Concentration

The influence of water vapor in air on power generation characteristic of solid oxide fuel cells was analyzed by measuring cell voltage at a constant current density as a function of water vapor concentration at 800°C and 1000°C. Cell voltage change was negligible at 1000°C, while considerable voltage drop was observed at 800°C accelerated at high water vapor concentrations of 20 wt % and 40 wt %. It is considered that La 2 O 3 formed on the (La 0.8 Sr 0 . 2 ) 0 . 98 MnO 3 surface, which is assumed to be the reason for a large voltage drop.